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DOCUMENTS 



RELATIVE TO THE 



COLONIAL HISTORY 



STATE OF NEW-YORK; 



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PROCURED IN 



HOLLAND, ENGLAND AND FRANCE, 



BY 



JOHN ROMEYN BRODHEAD, ESQ., 



AGENT, 

UNDER AND BY VIRTUE OF AN ACT OF THE LEGISLATURE, ENTITLED "AN ACT TO APPOINT AN AGEKT TO 

PROCURE AND TRANSCRIBE DOCUMENTS IN EUROPE RELATIVE TO THE COLONIAL HISTORY 

OF THE STATE," PASSED MAY 2, 1839. 




PUBLISHED UNDER AND BY VIRTUE OF AN ACT OP THE LEGISLATURE, ENTITLED " AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE PUBLISHING OF 
CERTAIN DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE COLONIAL HISTORY OF THE STATE," PASSED MARCH 30, 1849, AND AN ACT ENTI- 
TLED "AN ACT IN RELATION TO THE COLONIAL HISTORY OF THE STATE, AND THE PUBLICATION AND DISTRIBUTION 

THEREOF," PASSED APRIL 12, 1856. 



EDITED BY 



E. B. O'CALLAGHAN, M. D., LL. D. 



WITH A GENERAL INTRODUCTION BY THE AGENT. 



VOL. I. 



ALBANY: 

WEED, PARSONS AND COMPANY, PRINTERS. 
1856. 



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Volumes III., IV., V., VI., VII. and IX. of this work were published under the direction of the Governor, 
Secretary of State and Comptroller of the State of New- York; and the publication has been completed 
under the authority of the Regents op the University, in virtue of the Act of the Legislature to that effect, 
passed April 12, 1856. 

The Documents in Dutch and French were translated by E. B. O'Callaghan, M. D., LL. D., who was 
employed for that purpose, and to superintend the publication generally. 



CORRESPONDENCE. 



Albany, 30 June, 1856. 
Sir: 

The Legislature having recently placed the publication of the Documents collected by you in Europe, relative to 
the Colonial History of the State of New- York, under the direction of the Regents of the University, I have been 
instructed by the Committee of the Regents charged with the subject, to request you to prepare a General Introduction 
to that work, to be prefixed to the first volume, which is now nearly ready. 

Your agency in procuring the Documents of which this publication is composed, and your thorough knowledge of 
the whole subject, clearly point you out as the proper person to perform this service ; and the Committee hope that 
your well known interest in this work will induce you to comply with their request. 

I add my own personal and earnest wishes that you will undertake this task, and am, with great consideration, 

Yours most truly, 

JOHN V. L. PRUYN, 

Chairman of the Committee. 
John Romeyn Brodhead, Esq., &c, &c, &c, 

New - York. 



New-York, 1 July, 1856. 
Sir: 

I have received your letter of yesterday, in which, as Chairman of the Committee of the Regents of the 
University having the subject in charge, you request me to prepare an Introduction to the " Colonial History " of this 
State — commonly so called — to be prefixed to the first volume. 

The Committee, in making this request, have done me an honor which I highly appreciate, and for which I beg 
you to express to them my acknowledgments. Feeling, as is very natural under all the circumstances, a peculiar 
interest in the publication of this work, I shall not decline the flattering duty you have asked me to perform. It 
seems to me that the most satisfactory Introduction to the work would be, mainly, a detailed account of the origin, 
progress and results of the Historical Agency by which the Documents forming the publication were procured. With 
this understanding, I shall set myself about its preparation at once, and execute my pleasant task as promptly as 

other engagements will permit. 

With high regard, I am, Sir, 

Sincerely yours, 

JOHN ROMEYN BRODHEAD. 

John V. L. Pruyn, Esq., &c, &c, &c, 

Albany. 



GENERAL INTRODUCTION. 



The Public Records of the State of New -York are, chiefly, in the office of the 
Secretary of State at Albany. They are as various in their character as they are 
voluminous in their extent. Most of them relate to and illustrate the History of the 
State ; and without them no accurate or detailed knowledge of that history can be 
gained. 

Previous to the American Revolution the seat of the Colonial Government was 
the city of New- York, and the public records of the Province were kept there. They 
extended back to a very early period after the first settlement of the country. The 
most ancient of them were in the Dutch language ; and they related to the affairs of 
New Netherland, as New -York was called while it was a Colony and Province of the 
United Provinces, from soon after its discovery, in 1609, to its surrender to the English 
in 1664. These Dutch records, however, are incomplete. It is known that the early 
Provincial authorities recorded their transactions with care ; but, unfortunately, with 
the exception of some entries of lands, the oldest of which is in 1630, none of the 
records of Director Minuit's administration, from 1626 to 1632, nor of Director Yan 
Twiller 1 s, from 1633 to 1638, have been preserved. The series of papers, however, is 
tolerably complete during the time of Director Kieft, from 1638 to 1647, and of 
Director Stuyvesant, from 1647 to 1664. 

After the surrender of New Netherland, in 1664, the records of the Province of 
New -York were kept in English, and were preserved in much better condition than 
the fragmentary archives of the Dutch period. Those relating to lands and local 
transactions, however, are generally far more perfect than those affecting the political 
history of the Province. This was, no doubt, owing to the practice which prevailed, 
to a great extent, with the British Colonial Governors, of retaining in their own 
personal custody the correspondence between themselves and their superiors in 



vi GENERAL INTRODUCTION. 

England. But the chief cause of the deficiencies in the public records of New-York 
may he traced to the vicissitudes which marked its annals in the transfer of sovereignty 
from Holland to England, and in the assumption of sovereignty by the Colonists in 
the Revolution. 

Upon the full organization of the State government the city of Albany became the 
capital, and the Colonial and Provincial records — other than those relating to the 
municipality of the metropolis — which had formerly been kept in New-York, were 
removed thither. The pressing concerns of a new and impoverished Commonwealth 
for a long time prevented much thought being given to those silent and fading 
memorials which recorded the events of the earlier days of the State. 

Yet, there were many who looked upon historical inquiry in its true light, as an 
incentive to progress and an aid to patriotism. They felt that too little was known 
of the olden times of New -York, and that especially the half century during which it 
was a distant dependency of Holland was the " dark period " in its history. 

A few prominent citizens accordingly assembled, on the 20th of November, 1804, in 
the city of New -York, and agreed to form themselves into a Society, "the principal 
design of which should be to collect and preserve whatever may relate to the natural, 
civil, or ecclesiastical history of the United States, in general, and of this State in 
particular." This was the origin of the New -York Historical Society, which, on 
the 10th day of February, 1809, received a special Act of Incorporation from the 
Legislature. The members of the Society immediately took steps to accomplish the 
high purposes of their association, and soon collected a valuable library of printed 
books and manuscripts. At length the time came when it was thought that the 
attention of the State authorities might judiciously be drawn to the importance of the 
objects for which, especially, the Society had been organized. At its request, De Witt 
Clinton, then its Vice-President, accordingly prepared the following memorial, which 
was presented to the Legislature at its session in 1814: 

" TO THE HONORABLE THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW-YORK. 

" The Memorial of the New -York Historical Society most respectfully represents : 

" That this Institution was established for the purpose of acquiring and promoting a know- 
ledge of the natural, civil, literary and ecclesiastical history of America, and more particularly 
of this State. The attainment of objects so various, comprehensive and important, requiring 
such extensiveness of information, such profundity of research, such exertion of industry and 
such liberality of expense, is unquestionably beyond the means and the faculties of any indi- 
vidual, however he may be endowed with the gifts of fortune and genius, and whatever may 
be the extent of his enterprise, activity and influence. Associations, comprehending a mass 



GENERAL INTRODUCTION. vii 

of information and talent, and embracing not only the disposition but the ability to promote 
knowledge, are essentially necessary to crown with success any important undertaking of this 
nature. With these motives, and for these objects, this society was formed. A liberal and 
enlightened Legislature, justly appreciating its importance, granted it a charter of incorpora- 
tion ; and it now only remains for them to complete the important work which has received 
their approving voice, by an extension to this society of a portion of that munificence which, 
we are proud to say, characterizes the legislation of this State. 

" During the short period of the existence of this society, we have devoted no inconsidera- 
ble portion of time, attention and money to collect books, pamphlets, manuscripts, maps, 
medals, and other materials, which may tend to illustrate and complete the great outlines of 
our history. This collection, on account of the number, the variety and the rarity of its 
objects, may be safely valued at ten thousand dollars. If, in the infant state of the society, 
without public patronage, and without any other excitement than a desire to be useful, as 
humble contributors to the great stock of human knowledge, we have been able to accomplish 
so much, what might we not effect if public bounty should be united with individual contribu- 
tion, and if the countenance of the Legislature should stamp a value upon our researches, and 
enable us to dispel the clouds which envelope the history of our country '? 

" It is well known to your honorable body that America has been settled principally by the 
English, the Dutch, the French, the Spaniards, and the Portuguese. The Swedes at one 
period planted a Colony on the Delaware. The Danes also have occupied islands in the West 
Indies; and several islands between Asia and America derive their population from Russia 
and its dependencies. How important and how necessary is it to procure books which have 
been written in those countries, illustrative of the affairs of America. It is well known that 
many manuscripts are buried in the archives of State, or in the libraries of public bodies, 
which might be transcribed, and which would shed new light on our history. The Biblio- 
theca Americana, published in England, imperfect as it is, indicates what invaluable and 
unexplored treasures for our historians may be obtained in that country. 

" But we would beg leave to solicit the attention of the Legislature more particularly to the 
history of this State. It is unnecessary to descant upon the imperfections of its natural 
history. Whole departments of this science have been almost entirely neglected; the powers 
of observation and investigation have not been applied to elucidate and explore them; the 
destructive hand of time is rapidly sweeping into oblivion many important objects of inquiry; 
and what might now with facility be rescued from oblivion, the flight of a few years will place 
beyond the reach of human power. 

" The civil history of this State may be divided into four parts: 

" I. When occupied by the aborigines. 

" II. When under the government of the Dutch, which was about half a century. 

"III. Its state under England, which continued about one hundred and twelve years, and 
which includes the proprietary government of the Duke of York, and its government 
under the Kings of Great Britain, excepting about sixteen months, when it was 
repossessed by the Dutch. 

"IV. And, lastly, its political existence as a member of an independent government. 

"Before the lapse of many years, the remnant of the Indian nations which now inhabit the 
State will experience the fate of all sublunary things. The few antiquities of the country, the 
forts and the tumuli, which may now be easily explored, will be effaced by the extension of 



viii GENERAL INTRODUCTION. 

cultivation. The natural history of the man of America, disfigured and perverted as he has 
been by European intercourse, may still be obtained to a considerable extent; his language 
may be put on record, and his traditions may be perpetuated. 

"As, before the Revolution, the Colonies of France and Great Britain were connected by 
vicinity, by treaty, by trade, and by continual and habitual intercourse with the Five Nations 
and other Indians which occupied this State, we can obtain valuable materials to illustrate this 
important period from the libraries and public collections of those countries. Many learned, 
elaborate and interesting works have never been seen in America ; some are so scarce that they 
cannot be procured without the expense of transcribing; and papers of great moment have 
never been printed. 

"The regular minutes of the transactions of the Indian Commissioners for this Colony, from 
1G75 to 1751, as kept by a secretary employed for the purpose, were bound up in four large 
folio volumes. This invaluable collection, and the subsequent Colonial records relative to 
Indian affairs, are not now to be found in this State; and they were probably conveyed away 
by Sir John Johnson, or his agents, at the commencement of the Revolution. The loss of 
these documents would produce a chasm in our history that could not be supplied ; and we 
hope that they may still be retrieved. Our concerns and negotiations with the Indians, since 
our existence as a State, have not been preserved in regular and complete order. They are 
scattered among the bureaus of our chief magistrates or are buried in the voluminous files of 
the Legislature. 

" To obtain materials for the Dutch portion of our history, comprising an interesting period 
of half a century, we must have recourse to the papers of the Dutch West India Company, 
and to the archives of the then government of that nation ; to the Dutch records of some of 
our counties, and in the office of the Secretary of State ; to the public offices in the neighboring 
Colonies, with whose governments the Dutch had negotiations ; and to several books published 
in the Dutch and Latin languages, relative to this country, and which are scarcely known to 
us. The darkness which hangs over this branch may be perceived in the History of New- 
York, written by William Smith, a work which skims lightly over this interesting period, 
leaving it almost entirely unnoticed. 

" To supply that part of our history when we were subject to Great Britain, the most 
valuable materials may be obtained from various sources. From Chalmers' Political Annals it 
appears that there are many manuscripts in the Plantation Office, entitled ' New-York Entries' 
and 'New -York Papers.' We find in the catalogue of manuscripts preserved in the British 
Museum, some writings that refer particularly to this State; and in the catalogue of books 
belonging to that institution are preserved many works concerning America, in the Dutch, 
English, French, Spanish and Latin languages, affording a fund of information important and 
inestimable. We also know that there are many interesting books and manuscripts, relative to 
this country, in the library of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in America; and, 
perhaps, much important information may be obtained from the public offices in Canada. 

" The history of our country, since the commencement of the Revolutionary war, is in a 
better state of preservation; but even here, how many interesting events are passing into 
oblivion, how many important facts are distorted and misrepresented, how many illustrious 
achievements are forgotten or neglected. Documents that may illuminate the obscure, explain 
the doubtful, and embalm the memories of the good and the great, may now be drawn from 
their dark abodes, where in a few years they will be forgotten or lost. Letters of distinguished 



GENERAL INTRODUCTION. ix 

individuals, fugitive pamphlets, perishable manuscripts, ought now to be obtained and preserved. 
The time is precious, and not a moment should be lost. 

" The only history of this member of the Confederacy is that of William Smith, which is 
brought down to the year 1732. Is is too much to say that the most important is the worst or 
least described part of the Union? 

"Anxious, as we are, to explore these sources of intelligence, and to collect these ample 
materials, yet we feel that the want of funds presents an obstacle that can only be surmounted 
by the liberality and public spirit of the Legislature. We have done much, and we are willing 
to do more, in order to preserve the history of the State from oblivion. We are influenced by 
no other motive than that of elevating the character and promoting the prosperity of a 
community to which we are bound by every tie that is deemed precious and sacred among 
men. And let it not be said that the exigencies of the times and the pressure of a foreign war 
render it inexpedient to apply the public bounty to this object. The State is rich in funds, 
rich in credit and rich in resources; and she ought to be rich in liberality and public spirit. 
Genuine greatness never appears in a more resplendent light, or in a more sublime attitude, 
than in that buoyancy of character which rises superior to danger and difficulty; in that 
magnanimity of soul which cultivates the arts and sciences amidst the horrors of war; and in 
that comprehension of mind which cherishes all the cardinal interests of a country, without 
being distracted or diverted by the most appalling considerations. 

" We, therefore, most respectfully solicit the favorable notice of the Legislature, and we 
confidently hope that the result will be auspicious to the interests of literature and to the 
honor of our country. 

" New- York, January, 1814." 

This memorial of the Historical Society was received with great favor by the 
Legislature, which, with a liberality that has always belonged to the State of New- 
York, passed two acts on the 13th and the 15th of April, 1814, recognizing, in the 
most gratifying manner, the claims of the Institution to the regard of the representatives 
of the people. Public attention was now drawn more distinctly to the condition of the 
archives of the State. They were found to be in great disorder, and the necessity of 
some arrangement and classification of them was conceded. The Dutch records, 
especially, being in a generally unfamiliar language, provision was made for their 
translation, and Dr. Francis Adriaen Van der Kemp, a learned Hollander, was 
appointed by Governor Clinton to perform this service, which he accordingly did. 
His translations, forming twenty-six volumes, are now known and generally quoted as 
the "Albany Records." A concurrent resolution was also passed by the Legislature at 
their session in 1819, authorizing the Secretary of State, under the direction of the 
Governor, to cause to be bound and arranged such of the records as he might think 
expedient. On the 4th of January, 1820, Mr. John Van Ness Yates, then Secretary 
of State, submitted a Report to the Legislature, detailiug the steps he had taken in 



x GENERAL INTRODUCTION. 

currying their resolution into effect, and containing an interesting and elaborate 
synopsis of the several divisions and the specific character of the public records in his 
custody. To this Report was appended a general Catalogue, I., of the Dutch Colonial 
Records • II., of the English Colonial Records ; and III., of the State Records ; and 
from this statement it appeared that there were at that time in the Secretary's office, 
altogether, 6(31 books, 324 maps, and 900 bundles of papers. 

But though the Report of Mr. Secretary Yates and the translations made by Mr. 
Van deb Kemp had undoubtedly served to enlighten the public mind as to the 
historical value and importance of the archives of the State, there was still great 
misapprehension in regard to their actual extent and character. Apparently unheeded, 
and allowed to moulder in neglect, a very large proportion of these records yet 
remained in bundles, which were deposited in boxes or hidden in almost inaccessible 
corners in the old State Hall, without any proper arrangement or means for their 
convenient examination. It is not surprising, under these circumstances, that while, 
on the one hand, the public archives were known to be defective in many important 
respects, on the other hand the State should have been supposed to be less rich in 
historical records than it really was ; and that the attention of those whose minds 
had long been given to the subject should have been earnestly directed towards the 
best means of securing and increasing the literary property of the people by adding 
to it those materials for the illustration of their history which were preserved in the 
offices of European governments. The income of the deposit with the State of certain 
surplus moneys of the Federal government having then recently been set apart for the 
promotion of public education, it was thought by many that a portion of this revenue 
might be properly applied towards the accomplishment of the object which had been 
originally suggested to the Legislature in 1814, in the memorial of the New-York 
Historical Society. 

Accordingly, at a meeting of that Society on the 10th of April, 1838, a committee 
was appointed to solicit from the Legislature an annual grant, out of the income of the 
United States' Deposit Fund, to defray the expenses of procuring materials in Europe 
for the illustration of the history of the State. In pursuance of this action, a memorial 
was presented to the Legislature in behalf of the Historical Society ; but owing to the 
lateness of the period of the session, it was not judged expedient to press the application 
at that time. In the following December the Society again appointed a committee to 
present the subject at Albany, with a view of procuring an adequate appropriation for 
the purpose of obtaining copies of all the documents in the public offices of Holland 



GENERAL INTRODUCTION. x [ 

and England relating to the Colonial history of New-York. On the 8th of January, 
1839, Mr. John L. Stephens, from this committee, accordingly reported the draft of 
the following memorial, which was adopted by the Society and ordered to he attested 
and delivered to the committee to he by them presented to the Legislature. 

"TO THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF NEW-YORK. 

" The Memorial of the New- York Historical Society respectfully represents : 

" That, by the charter received from your honorable body, your memorialists were entrusted 
with the performnnce of certain duties, and particularly were bound to collect and preserve 
documents, papers and evidences, and generally all materials relating to or in any way affecting 
the history of this State; that, in the prosecution of this object, they have collected, and now 
hold in safe keeping, many interesting and important documents and papers, which, but for 
your memorialists, would have been destroyed or lost. 

"And your memorialists represent that they have been advised by those who from official 
station had unusual opportunities and facilities for making researches, and have learned from 
other sources on which they can rely, that there are now in the archives and public offices of 
Holland and England many documents, letters, correspondences and papers, relating to and 
bearing upon and directly connected with the events and prominent persons of our Colonial 
history and of our War of Revolution; which said documents, letters, correspondences and 
papers contain matters in relation to the views and purposes of those governments in the 
treatment of their Colony; the reports, opinions and advices of their Governors, Military Com- 
manders, and other officers then resident here ; the population, resources and general condition 
of the country, and the character, temper and feeling of the people; all of which were stu- 
diously concealed from the colonists, and to a great extent are still unknown in this country. 

"And your memorialists represent that the said documents, letters, correspondences and 
papers illustrate and explain many uncertain passages in our Colonial history and our War of 
Revolution ; and that without them, or copies thereof, or access thereto, no true and perfect 
history of this State can ever be written. 

" And your memorialists represent that, under a sense of the importance of the trust reposed 
in them, and deeply solicitous to procure this valuable addition to the materials now under 
their control, they consider it their duty to make known to your honorable body that their 
means are inadequate to undertake the expense attendant thereon. And they represent further 
that, even if they did possess the means, they do not believe they could, in their own name, 
accomplish this object. The inspection of the archives of governments and the documents in 
public offices is not granted on the application of individuals, or even of private associations, 
but only on the request of a high power. 

" And your memorialists represent that an inspection of the said documents, letters, 
correspondences and papers would be permitted, and copies thereof granted, upon formal 
application for that purpose, made in the name and by the authority of this State. Y'our 
memorialists entertain the belief, from the fact that such permission has been granted on the 
application of other States of our Confederacy; and that an Agent appointed for that purpose 
by the State of Georgia is now in London, receiving every facility from the Departments of 
the English government. 



x ii GENERAL INTRODUCTION. 

" And your memorialists represent that the present is a most favorable moment for such an 
application. It is a season of general peace, and great good feeling between our respective 
governments; and opportunities and facilities are now afforded, in a spirit of the most 
friendly courtesy, which, in time of war, or even of a troubled political horizon, wouH be 
peremptorily refused. 

"And your memorialists represent that, in all probability, this is the only moment in which 
your honorable body will be called upon to give its aid in this matter, for it is only because 
of the special trust reposed in your memorialists that they have deemed it their duty to ask 
the interposition of your honorable body; and, though all might consider it a proper subject 
for the action of this State, its interest is too general and the prospect of success too remote 
to occupy the minds of individuals. Your memorialists do not believe that there will ever be 
a more favorable opportunity for renewing their request, and in all probability no such attempt 
will ever be made by others. 

"And your memorialists believe that it is worthy the ambition of the Empire State to have 
under its own control the materials for writing its history. Already, in its rapid increase of 
population and resources, it stands as a wonder in the history of the world : in a few years 
its changes will almost surpass human belief, and then, the smallest scrap which illustrates its 
former condition will be regarded as a precious memorial. Indeed, even now it is precious ; 
for — with a full knowledge of all that has been attempted upon this subject — your memorial- 
ists represent that the History of the State of New-York remains yet to be written. 

" To the end that the Historian may come to this work with all the advantages which its 
importance demands, your memorialists pray 

" That an appropriation be made by your honorable body, at its present session, for the 
purpose of defraying the expenses of an Agent, to be sent, under the direction of this Society, 
in the name and by the authority of this State, to ask for and procure from the governments 
of England and Holland, if possible, the originals, and if not, copies, of all documents, letters, 
correspondences and papers in their archives and public offices, which relate to or in any way 
affect our Colonial history and our War of Revolution ; and that the same, when procured, 

be deposited for safe keeping with your memorialists. 

"P. G. STUYVESANT, 
[ l. s. ] "President of the New-York Historical Society. 

" JOHN C. JAY, 
" Rec. Secretary of the New - York Historical Society." 

This memorial was communicated to the Legislature, in the following message from 
the Governor to the Assembly, on tlie 5th of February, 1839 : 

" I have the honor to transmit a memorial from the New-York Historical Society, praying 
for the passage of a law authorizing the appointment of an Agent to visit Europe, to tran- 
scribe documents remaining in the public offices of the governments of England and Holland, 
illustrating the Colonial history of this State. 

" It would advance the cause of free government throughout the world, and it is due to 
ourselves, to the memory of our predecessors, and to a just regard for the respect of posterity, 
that every important circumstance connected with the rise and progress of our free institutions 
should be recorded and illustrated. 



GENERAL INTRODUCTION. xiii 

" It is believed that we have, hitherto, manifested a singular indifference in regard to this 
object. The English government has made a munificent gift to our State Library of records 
illustrating the early history of that nation. Massachusetts has taken care to preserve the 
resources for her history, during the Revolutionary contest, by causing to be published the 
Journals of her Colonial Congress. The State of Georgia has now an Agent in London, 
engaged in obtaining copies of the records belonging to that State. This State has certainly 
not less interest in rescuing and preserving the memorials of her Colonial condition. 

" I respectfully commend the petition of ' The New-York Historical Society' to the favora- 
ble consideration of the Legislature. 

" WILLIAM H. SEWARD." 



This message of the Governor and the accompanying memorial of the Historical 
Society were referred by the House of Assembly to a select committee, who, on the 
19th of February, 1839, made the following report, by their Chairman, Mr. Chapin: 

" That the subject of the communication and memorial has received from the committee 
the attention to which the opinion of the Executive is entitled, and which the objects of 
the memorialists seem to claim. 

" The committee are agreed in believing with his Excellency that upon this subject 'we 
have hitherto manifested a singular indifference,' and that ' it is due to ourselves, to the memory 
of our predecessors, and to a just regard for the respect of posterity, that every important 
circumstance connected with the rise and progress of our free institutions should be recorded.' 
Nor are they less united in believing that the annals of our Colonial history, now secured in 
the archives of foreign governments, would, if transcribed and made public, reveal facts of the 
greatest interest to the State. 

"The memorialists constitute the Historical Society of the State of New-York, and were 
chartered for the important purpose of collecting and preserving documents, papers, evidences, 
and generally all materials relating to or in any way connected with the history of this State. 
In discharge of the duties thus imposed upon them, and in pursuance of the objects thus 
intrusted by the Legislature to their care, they have been for many years ardently and faithfully 
engaged in securing from the wreck of time numerous and valuable memorials of our early 
history, which, but for their laudable efforts, would have been consigned to oblivion. In the 
prosecution of purposes so important and ennobling, the memorialists, it should be observed, 
have been limited in their researches to our own country, while it is equally remarkable that 
a great mass of materials relative to our Colonial history are hid from view and secured within 
the offices of transatlantic governments. Separated thus far distant from the most fruitful 
sources of information on this subject, it is but reasonable to suppose that their efforts have 
been materially restricted and their usefulness abridged. Superadded to this, there has ever 
existed a great difficulty, if not an impossibility, in obtaining access to the documents, papers, 
&c, so valuable in illustrating our history, and which, if sought for, have eluded research from 
the want of that legislative sanction and authority now desired by your memorialists. 

" Impressed with these considerations, and encouraged by the counsel and inuflence of the 
most distinguished of our citizens, the petitioners represent that they are desirous to obtain 



x iv GENERAL INTRODUCTION. 

the passage of a law by this Legislature, authorizing the appointment of an Agent to visit 
Europe, and, under the sanction of legislative enactment, to transcribe the documentary papers 
there to be found, having reference to the history of this State. They further represent that 
they have been advised by many, high in official stations, that there are great numbers of 
letters, records and official documents in England, Holland and France, detailing the particulars 
of our primitive and Revolutionary history, and those relating to public and private negotiations, 
to distinguished individuals and influential associations, to the plans of foreign governments in 
their treatment of the Colonies, to the character of our people, and to the nature and resources 
of our arts and arms. And it is also represented, with like truth and force, as your committee 
believe, that at no period of our history have circumstances been so auspicious for the 
prosecution and successful issue of their purposes as those presented at this time. Not only 
are the relations between the governments referred to and our own more intimate and better 
understood than heretofore, but the increased facilities of intercommunication, and the mutual 
dependencies of trade, and reciprocity of public and private favors are such as to render the 
present truly propitious for the execution of the designs contemplated by the memorialists. 

"The importance of these facts has induced other States and associated bodies to become 
enlisted in the extension of similar objects; and it is reasonably inferred, the committee think, 
that the State of New -York — behind none in her extent and population, her arts and her 
commerce, the productions of her soil, the interest and variety of her historical reminiscences, 
and the intelligence and public spirit of her citizens — will not, on this subject, remain unfaithful 
to her honor, her interests and her fame. 

"Among the early Colonies and the people composing the inhabitants of our newly discovered 
country, none were more distinguished than New-York and its enterprising citizens; and up 
to the present moment it has continued to develope the elements of its greatness, thus 
characteristic of the Empire State. In the drama of our Colonial and National history, she 
was, and continues to be, proudly eminent. Her soil, her streams and her people are known 
to fame. History, faint as it is, reveals her crimsoned plains, her bulwarks of military and 
naval art, and the chivalry of her sons. The virtues, the heroism and the councils of her 
citizens were felt and appreciated during the primitive condition of our common country, and 
while our united energies were called forth in the cause of freedom. But, thougli History has 
not denied us the evidences of these truths, yet how much more may she not do for the honor 
of our State and the glory of our ancestors, when our own historians are admitted to all the 
sources of her historic treasures! 

"It is worthy of remark that the only ostensive history of the State of New -York was 
written by an Englishman, and dedicated to the Right Honorable George, Earl of Stanhope, 
Commissioner of Trade and Plantations, &c. The extent and character of this history may 
be estimated from the confession and announcement of the author, in his declaration that it 
was ' but a narrative,' and that ' it deserves not the name of history.' And further, in his 
dedication, that 'it was not presented for his Lordship's information,'' as 'all the world knows 
that the affairs of the British Colonies have been for several years past under his principal 
direction, and the wisdom of the measures pursued for their prosperity and defence are 
indisputable arguments of his acquaintance with their condition.' 

" Thus were the details of our Colonial history, and all the ' wisdom ' displayed in the 
government of the Colonies, presumed to have been condensed within the cranium of his right 
honorable lordship. 



GENERAL INTRODUCTION. xv 

"The further usefulness of the author to this Province and to posterity, it might be added, 
was prematurely arrested by his refusal to renounce his allegiance to the Crown at the most 
critical juncture of our history — his confinement at the ' Livingston Manor' — his transportation 
to New-York by General Washington, and his subsequent shipment to the land of his birth 
and of his choice. 

"From the Dutch history of 'New Nelherland,' a pamphlet published at Amsterdam, may, 
in like manner, be gathered the fruitful events of our Provincial history up to the time of that 
elaborate work, eschewing, always, the veritable Knickerbocker. 

" From a notice of these particulars, it is submitted, by your committee, whether the history 
of the State of New -York ought not to rest on higher and safer authority than that referred to, 
and whether it should not be written by one of her own citizens possessed of the materials, to 
be derived from the sources before mentioned, and from the researches and under the 
supervision of the State Historical Society. 

"During the period from 1609, when our shores were first discovered and our noble river 
ascended by Henry Hudson, to 1614, and while as a Dutch Colony, up to 1664, and 
subsequently as an English Colony, from that date to 1776, it was well known that the most 
intimate relations existed between the colonists and the mother countries, and that the 
numerous records, documents and continuous correspondence of the governmental agents and 
others were, as they duly should have been, filed and preserved in the various offices of the 
respective governments. These related to the occurrence and cause of successive events, to 
public officers and prominent persons among the colonists, to the character and productions of 
our new country, and to the feelings and sufferings of our virtuous and heroic ancestors. In 
addition to these, they related, at a later and still more interesting period of our history, to the 
events that brought about the War of Revolution, to the political views and acts of our people, 
to our condition and resources, to our councils, and to the policy of the parent government in 
connection with the reports and advices of military and naval commanders and civil and 
judicial officers. 

" Nor are the particulars here noticed to be obtained alone from the archives of England 
and Holland. The government of France is presumed to be in possession of documentary 
papers having reference to the part she took in our Revolutionary struggle, to her subsequent 
relations to this country, and to ' the French and Indian wars,' which by no means form the 
least affecting and important portion of our Colonial history. 

" The military operations of the French in our State, their erection of fortifications at 
various points, and the events which transpired — often tragical in their character — should be 
subjects of lively interest with the descendants from those who braved the toils and dangers 
incident to their defenceless condition and the merciless warfare of their enemies. 

" While, then, our Colonial history has been unequaled by that of any other Province in its 
fruitfulness of incidents and in its relative importance to the Colonies, your committee are of 
opinion that it claims to be faithfully recorded ; and that the efforts of the memorialists, to 
accomplish a work so desirable and useful, justly merit the sanction and patronage of the 
Legislature. 

" It may not be unimportant to add that, while the Colonial history of this State is seen to 
be thus fraught with local and general interest, it is characterized by the existence of the most 
singular relics of art, the origin of which has hitherto baffled the inquiries of the philosophic 
and curious, but which reveal the startling fact that, at a period long antecedent to all know- 
ledge of our ancestors, it was signalized as the theatre of great and strange events. 



xv j GENERAL INTRODUCTION. 

" Many of these, like the chronicles of our own times now sought to be saved from the 
same oblivious fate, are fast disappearing before the modern ' march of improvement' and the 
destructive influence of time, while others, if known to the early colonists, have sunk into 
ruin and forgetfulness. 

"It appears to the committee, from a review of the subject submitted to their examination 
and opinion, that it would be worthy of the pride and ambition of our citizens to encourage 
the enterprise of the memorialists, and to secure for the State the materials for its enlarged 
history. And your committee believe that no subject is calculated to inspire us with a 
stronger love of freedom and of country than the records of the times and the chivalric deeds 
of our fathers — those who gave us life, liberty, and a country made sacred by their blood. 
Ingratitude alone must be our apology in failing to cherish the memory and the annals of their 
history. Nor is it less an obligation to our predecessors, than a duty to posterity, that we 
encourage the perpetuity of their examples of virtue and of patriotism. 

" In the execution of the purposes set forth by the memorialists, and commended by the 
Governor, it is represented that two years should be employed, and that an expenditure of 
$4000 may accomplish the work. 

" This amount, though less than that suggested by the inclination of the committee, has 
been deemed to be an adequate appropriation, which, while it may insure the successful issue 
of the enterprise, will not be thought unworthy the Empire State for the accomplishment of 
an object which cannot fail to prove honorable to her fame. 

" With these views of the subject, the committee submit the accompanying bill." 

The bill reported by the select committee, having duly passed both Houses of the 
Legislature, was signed by the Governor on the 2d of May, 1839, and is as follows: 



"AN ACT TO APPOINT AN AGENT TO PROCURE AND TRANSCRIBE DOCUMENTS IN EUROPE 
RELATIVE TO THE COLONIAL HISTORY OF THIS STATE. 

" Passed Mat 2, 1839. 

" The People of the Stale of Neiv-York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows: 

" Section 1. An Agent shall be appointed by the Governor of this State, by and with the 
advice and consent of the Senate, to visit England, Holland and France, for the purpose of 
procuring, if possible, the originals, and if not, copies, of all such documents and papers, in 
the archives and offices of those governments relating to or in any way affecting the Colonial 
or other history of this State, as he may deem important to illustrate that history. 

"§ 2. The said documents and papers, when procured, shall be deposited in the office of the 
Secretary of this State, subject to the use of the State Historical Society. 

" § 3. A sum not exceeding four thousand dollars is hereby appropriated for defraying the 
expenses of said Agent." 



The words of this act are very broad and indefinite, and they seem to have been 
purposely made so. What was evidently intended was, that the Agent should select 



GENERAL INTRODUCTION. xvii 

and obtain, in Europe, historical documents and papers, which, when procured, were 
to be added to and form a part of the existing records of the State, at Albany. He 
was necessarily invested with a large discretion ; he was to procure as much additional 
material as he could ; and his scope of selection was limited only by the comprehensive 
restriction to such documents "relating to or in any way affecting the Colonial or 
other history" of New -York, as, in his own judgment, he might " deem important to 
illustrate 1 ' that history. 

Under this law, the names of several gentlemen connected with antiquarian 
investigations were suggested as fit and proper to execute its duties ; and in March, 
1840, the Historical Society, through its President, Mr. Peter A. Jay, addressed an 
official letter to the Governor, reminding him that two distinguished citizens of the State 
were then representing the United States government abroad- — Mr. Henry Wheaton, 
at Berlin, and Mr. Harimanus Bleecker, at the Hague — whose public position would 
give them superior facilities for research, and who would no doubt cheerfully superintend 
the execution of the contemplated work ; and the Society accordingly recommended 
that one or the other of these gentlemen should be appointed Agent of the State. 
Various circumstances, however, delayed the execution of the act. At length, on the 
15th of January, 1841, nearly two years after the passage of the law, Mr. John 
Romeyn Brodiiead was commissioned as Agent. He had resided during the previous 
year in Holland, with Mr. Bleecker, attached to the American Legation at the Hague, 
and was to some extent familiar with the peculiar duty he was expected to perform. 
In order, however, to avoid what was felt to be the chief inconvenience in the execution 
of his mission, namely, the procuring of duplicates of documents already in the posses- 
sion of the State, the Agent spent several weeks in a careful examination of the prin- 
cipal historical records in the Secretary's office at Albany. They were at that time, to a 
great degree, in the comparatively unarranged and confused condition already described ; 
and the investigation of them was necessarily imperfect and unsatisfactory. There 
was no catalogue or abstract sufficient to indicate their dates or contents. Notwith- 
standing these unfavorable circumstances, copious notes and memoranda were made by 
the Agent, and every precaution was taken to secure the means to assist and guide his 
judgment as far as possible, when he should be engaged in his investigations in the 
foreign archives. 

Previous to his departure for Europe, the Agent received the following instructions 
from the Governor: 



,} 



XV ;H GENERAL INTRODUCTION. 

" STATE OF NEW-YORK, 

"Executive Department, 

"Albany, March 11th, 1841. 
" To John Romeyn Biiodhead, Esquire : 

" The Legislature of this State having on the 2d day of May, 1839, passed an act for the 
appointment of an Agent to visit England, Holland and France for the purpose of procuring 
the originals or copies of such documents and papers, in the archives of those governments, 
relating to the Colonial and other history of this State as are important to illustrate that 
history, and you having been duly appointed such Agent, and being about to proceed in the 
execution of your duties, it seems to be proper that I should communicate to you the views 
entertained by the Executive in relation thereto. 

" This communication is to be regarded as advisory only. The language of the acts is quite 
indefinite, and was undoubtedly designedly made so, in order to leave the Agent at liberty to 
exercise a sound and wise discretion, according to the circumstances affecting the object of his 
mission. In recommending those objects to the Legislature, I observed that their successful 
accomplishment would advance the cause of free government throughout the world, and that 
it was due to ourselves and to the memory of our predecessors, and to a just regard for the 
respect of posterity, that every important circumstance connected with the rise and progress 
of our free institutions should be recorded and illustrated. 

" The general policy of the European governments towards their transatlantic possessions 
has been heretofore studied by us chiefly in the acts of their agents here, while its compara- 
tive unimportance in the domestic history of those States has caused it to be often overlooked 
or superficially treated by European historians. It is represented to us that there are now, in 
the archives and public offices of Holland and England, many papers relating to the events 
and persons prominent in our local history anterior to and through the Revolution. Among 
such papers may be expected to be found reports, advices, and other commnnications from the 
Colonial Governors, Military Commanders, the early colonists, and other individuals resident 
here. 

" The policy of France, in establishing her military positions upon this continent, is regarded 
among the most important and interesting particulars of our history ; and her long struggle to 
retain those positions exercised a great influence for a long period upon the condition, disposi- 
tion and purposes of the people of New-York. It is, I presume, chiefly with a view to obtain- 
ing authentic evidence concerning this part of our history that you are expected to visit that 
country. 

" It would be highly interesting to obtain the originals or copies of the instructions for- 
warded to the French and English Governors of Canada ; to learn the views which possessed 
them, of a commercial, military or colonizing character; their expectations of the future 
growth of their settlements bordering upon the colony of New-York ; their expenditures and 
receipts; the nature and extent of their alliance with the Indian tribes; and the history of 
their expeditions across the St. Lawrence, and of their posts upon Lake Ontario and the River 
Niagara, so far as developed by official reports, or memorials from the foreign departments 
under whose administration these various operations took place. 

" It will be equally important to obtain in England the copies of those papers relating to 
the occupation of the Colony, which are said to have been removed to the mother country, 



GENERAL INTRODUCTION. XIX 

together with such official documents, memoirs and statistical details as were doubtless com- 
municated from time to time to the British government by its agents here. Among these 
transactions, the conduct of Sir William Johnson, his agency with the Indians, his communi- 
cations to his government, and his views as to the extension of the British power, would be 
particularly valuable. The expedition of Colonel Nicolls has never yet been known to us in 
all its details. The capture of the city of Albany, under his orders, has found as yet but a 
few lines on the pages of the historian. 

" The Dutch records have furnished us with a vast amount of information relating to the 
Colony while in subordination to the West India Company; but the official reports of Govern- 
ors Van Twiller, Stuyvesant, Kieft, &c, to the father-land, and the documents which must 
necessarily have been communicated from time to time by those zealous agents, are yet to 
become a part of the materials of our history. 

" Many details in relation to the patents, manorial rights, &c, and much information relating 
to the Indian trade, will no doubt be gleaned from the archives which may become accessible. 

" All these, as far as the appropriation will permit, after defraying your necessary expenses 
and the private charges which will attend you in your various journeys, will become matter of 
interest to you in your general investigations. 

"You are advised to proceed first to Holland, to ascertain what documents and papers 
require your attention there ; then to proceed to England, and institute a similar examination 
there. Having thus ascertained what will be most important in those countries, you will 
proceed to solicit the originals, or cause transcripts to be made, as circumstances shall indicate. 
While this is going forward in those countries, you will have leisure to proceed to Paris, in 
performance of your duties at that capital. 

" You will from time to time report to the Executive of this State, and will be at liberty at 
all times to seek advice from him in regard to the discharge of the duties of your mission. 
You will ship to the address of the Secretary of State any books or parcels you deem it 
important to be sent to this country. 

" You will be allowed at the rate of two thousand dollars per annum, payable quarterly, for 
your compensation, besides your traveling expenses and disbursements for the purposes of your 
mission. You have already received an advance of fifteen hundred dollars. On rendering 
accounts for one thousand dollars of that sum, you may draw upon the Comptroller for another 
sum of one thousand dollars in advance, in like manner, and so on, accounting and drawing 
the extent of the amount appropriated in the bill. 

" In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name, and caused the 
[ l. s. ] great seal of the State to be affixed, this twenty-seventh day of March, in the 
year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty-one, and of the 
Independence of the United States of America the sixty-fifth. 

"WILLIAM H. SEWARD." 



In pursuance of his commission and instructions, Mr. Brodhead embarked for 
Europe on the first of May, 1841. He commenced his investigations in the archives 
at the Hague in the following summer ; and for nearly three years was diligently 
engaged in prosecuting his labors in the several Record offices of Holland, England and 



xx GENERAL INTRODUCTION. 

France. It was necessary, in the first place, to procure the official authority from the 
proper departments of government, without which the documents the Agent was in- 
structed to procure could neither be inspected nor copied. In Holland and in France, 
the requisite permission was readily and liberally granted. But in England the official 
regulations were mnch more embarrassing. 

When, at length, fairly engaged in his researches, the Agent found himself 
surrounded with difficulties, which, though to some extent he had anticipated, he had 
no means of entirely overcoming. Among much that was altogether new and of 
invaluable importance to the American historian, there was also found in the archives, 
especially of England, much that was more or less familiar. With the imperfect 
memoranda which he had been able to make of papers already in possession of the State, 
the Agent was constantly exposed to the chance of copying duplicates ; and the more 
so, as he was obliged to make his selections upon a prompt exercise of judgment, and 
without proper opportunities for comparison. All documents about which there was 
no doubt were at once selected for transcription ; and, on the other hand, such as were 
positively known to be in existence at Albany, in a complete form, were passed by. 
But the temptation to secure everything in any way illustrating our history, of the 
actual possession of which, by the State, there appeared to be any uncertainty, was ever 
strong. The duty of the Agent, as defined by the law, was to procure all such 
documents, " relating to or in any way affecting the Colonial or other history" of New- 
York, as he might " deem important to illustrate that history ;" and in executing this 
very comprehensive trust he was instructed to use a " sound and wise discretion." It 
was thought that this discretion would be most advantageously exercised by securing, 
while there was a favorable opportunity of doing so, all papers coming within the terms 
of the law, the suppression or omission of which might, in the judgment of competent 
historical authority, leave incomplete the public records of the State. Moreover, 
it was always considered that the object of the Agency was to add documents to the 
archives of the State, and not to procure and prepare the materials of a work for 
publication. Besides, the existence of duplicates of documents from different sources, 
in all public collections of papers, is known to be not only universal but oftentimes 
desirable, as such duplicates tend to verification. The Agent accordingly thought it to 
be his duty rather to risk redundancy than deficiency; and in all cases of doubt he 
preferred to secure papers with a liberal hand, while it was in his power to do so, 
leaving the question of their relative importance and their entire publication to be 
considered and settled afterwards, when ampler opportunity should be afforded for 
comparison and discrimination. 



GENERAL INTRODUCTION. xx i 

Soon after commencing his investigations in Europe, the Agent found that, owing to 
the large number of documents discovered, and the necessary expenses of their 
transcription, the original appropriation by the Legislature would be insufficient. 
Reports were from time to time addressed to the Governor, who communicated them 
to the Legislature ; and further sums of three thousand dollars on the 11th of April, 
1842, and five thousand dollars on the 13th of April, 1843, were voted to defray the 
expenses of the Agency. Having at length executed his duty as fully as he could, Mr. 
Brodhead returned home in the summer of 1844, and was occupied during the rest of 
that year in arranging and indexing the documents he had procured. These formed 
eighty volumes, and were deposited in the office of the Secretary of State, at Albany, 
where they now remain. 

Early in 1845, the Agent presented to the Governor his final report, giving a 
detailed statement of his proceedings and of their results, which was communicated to 
the Legislature in the following message : 



» EXECUTIVE CHAMBER, 
TO THE LEGISLATURE. 



"Albany, 21 Feb., 1845 



J 



" Herewith I have the honor to transmit the final report of the Agent of the State, appointed 
in pursuance of the provisions of the act of the 2d May, 1839, ' to procure and transcribe 
Documents in Europe, relative to the Colonial history of this State.' The report presents a 
brief but very clear history of the progress of the Agency, of the difficulties encountered, and 
of the general results accomplished, and will be read with the interest belonging to the 
subject. 

" My pressing engagements have not allowed me time to make myself acquainted with the 
documents which the Agent has secured, or with the expenditures which have been incurred, 
beyond the statements of the report now transmitted ; and I cannot, therefore, speak of the 
degree of success realized from the establishment of the Agency, or of the economy which 
has characterized the expenditure of the moneys appropriated. 

"It will be seen, from the closing paragraphs of the report, that the Agent is in advance, to 
meet the expenses which have been incurred, over and above his own compensation, for the 
last portion of the period of his service. His account is not submitted to me, but will of 
course, I presume, be ready for presentation to the Legislature, whenever its action in the 
matter shall require it. 

"The schedules of documents accompanying the report I have not found it possible to 
command the time even to read, although the transmission of the report has been delayed 
for some days, in the hope that so much leisure might be found. Any further delay would 
only abridge the time which will be allowed to the Legislature to make these examinations, 
and to take the necessary action to bring the Agency to a final close and the accounts of the 
Agent to a settlement and liquidation. Hence, the report and accompanying papers are 



xx ii GENERAL INTRODUCTION. 

transmitted without the information which enables me to make any recommendation, or 
even suggestions, as to the legislation called for or the appropriations required. 

« SILAS WRIGHT. 



'"REPORT OF JOHN ROMEYN BRODHEAD. 

«' ' To His Excellency, Silas Wright, 

" ' Governor of the State of New -York. 

" 'Sir — I have now the honor to lay before you a final report of my proceedings, as Agent of 
the State of New-York, under the act entitled " An act to appoint an Agent to procure and 
transcribe documents in Europe relative to the Colonial history of this State," passed May 2, 
1839, and of the results of my researches in the archives of Holland, England and France. 

"' Before, however, detailing these proceedings, it may not be out of place to refer briefly 
to the circumstances which led to the passage of the act of the Legislature by which the 
enterprise now brought to a conclusion was sanctioned. 

" ' This Agency is the result of the antiquarian spirit that has lately gained so much ground 
in our country. That spirit, growing and freshening with the advance of years, has been 
greatly strengthened and fostered by the exertions of the New-York Historical Society ; an 
institution which, it is but faint praise to say, has more than fulfilled the high hopes entertained 
of its future value and influence, by its projectors, in the year 1804. Exerting itself laudably 
in times of difficulty — struggling with adversity, and braving obstacles — its important 
objects gradually became appreciated by the public ; and in the year 1814 a memorial, drawn 
up by the late Governor De Witt Clinton, then vice-president of the society, stating in a 
clear and masterly manner the objects of the institution, was presented to the Legislature, 
and was so favorably received as to induce the grant of twelve thousand dollars in aid of the 
funds of the society. Its library to this day remains a noble monument of the munificence 
of the State and of the liberality of individuals. 

" ' In this memorial, the prescient mind of Clinton suggested, in effect, the measure which it 
was left to after days to see carried into execution. Referring to the gaps and deficiencies in 
our own existing records, the papers of the Dutch West India Company and the archives of 
the then government of the Netherlands were pointed out as the sources whence materials 
for the Dutch portion of our history were to be obtained ; and the records of the Plantation 
Office (Board of Trade) in London, and the library of the British Museum, were also alluded 
to, as affording an important and inestimable fund of information respecting the period of our 
subjection to the Crown of Great Britain. The public offices in Canada, it was also suggested, 
might contain much of interest to our historians. But circumstances for a long time 
prevented any direct effort being made by the society to obtain the favorable consideration 
of the subject by the Legislature, and it was not until the year 1838 that any formal steps 
were taken in the matter. In the month of April of that year, upon the motion of Mr. George 
Folsom, a memorial was prepared and presented to the Legislature, urging the importance 
of an investigation of European archives, for the purpose of procuring those materials for the 
illustration of our history which our own State records could not furnish ; and praying 
the State to undertake, for the benefit of the people, an enterprise the society of their own 
means were unable to carry into execution. This memorial, however, was presented so near 
to the close of the session as to render it expedient to postpone further efforts till the next 



GENERAL INTRODUCTION. xxiii 

year; when, tbe subject having been clearly and forcibly introduced by a message from the 
Governor, and its importance urged upon the members of tbe Legislature by the zealous and 
unwearied attention of Mr. John L. Stephens, the late Mr. William L. Stone, and others, an act 
was passed, with great unanimity on the 2d May, 1839, authorizingthe appointment of an Agent 
" to visit England, Holland and France, for the purpose of procuring, if possible, the originals, 
and if not, copies, of all such documents and papers in the archives and offices of those 
governments, relating to or in any way affecting the Colonial or other history of this State, as 
he may deem important to illustrate that history," and directing that the documents, when 
procured, be deposited in the office of the Secretary of State, at Albany, subject to the use of 
the State Historical Society. 

" ' Under this act I had the honor to receive a commission as Agent, on the 20th of January, 
1841. By the general instructions, in which the views of the Executive in relation to the 
duties of my mission were subsequently communicated to me, I was advised to proceed first 
to Holland, and ascertain what documents required my attention there ; and then to England 
and to France. The inspection of the State papers of foreign governments, it is well known, 
is not a mere matter of course, but is considered a privilege of a high order ; and is granted 
in most cases only upon applications backed by high personal or official influence. I had 
an interview, accordingly, with the Secretary of State of the United States, for the purpose 
of procuring specific instructions to the American Ministers at London, Paris and the Hague, 
m favor of my Agency ; but he having declined giving them at that time, I embarked for 
Europe on the 1st of May, 1841. 

" ' On my arrival at London, on my way to Holland, I had several interviews with Mr. 
Stevenson, then American Minister at the court of St. James, and communicated to him, very 
fully, the objects of my mission. Mr. Stevenson, though uninstructed by the General 
Government on this point, interested himself at once, very warmly, in the subject ; and 
advised an application forthwith, to Her Majesty's government, for permission to the Agent to 
make selections and transcripts of documents in the British archives relative to our Colonial 
and other history. A note was accordingly addressed to the Marquis of Normanby, on the 
22d May, 1841, explaining the objects of the State in making the application, and requesting 
that the necessary facilities might be afforded me for accomplishing, with as little delay as 
possible, the purpose of my mission to England. This note was referred by the Marquis of 
Normanby to Lord Palmerston, Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs; and on the 
20th July following an answer was returned to Mr. Stevenson, that Lord Palmerston felt 
some difficulty in acceding to my application, but that if 1 would send to him a list of any 
particular documents I wished to obtain, his lordship would have them examined by some 
competent person, and, if no objection should be found to their being communicated, they 
should be copied for my use, on the usual terms, at my expense. 

" ' Upon the receipt of this answer to my application, Mr. Stevenson immediately replied, 
explaining that no 'particular documents were asked for by the Agent of New-York ; that the 
object of the State was to have its Colonial history written from authentic documents, many 
of which were presumed to be in the State Paper Office, but whose particular character could 
not be known, and that they could not, therefore, be described; that the limitations and 
restrictions imposed in former cases were of course expected to be observed in the present, 
and that the Agent would, in fact, consider himself subject to the control and pleasure of tbe 
department. 



XXIV 



GENERAL INTRODUCTION. 



" 'It was hoped that, on a review of the subject, Her Majesty's government would have 
looked more auspiciously upon the application, and that, so far from perceiving in it anything 
objectionable, would rather have viewed the objects of the State as of a purely literary and 
altogether praiseworthy character, and, as such, commending themselves to the favorableand 
liberal consideration of an enlightened government. But the then ministry went out of 
office without having altered or modified their decision, which — considering the impossibility 
of my pointing out the particular documents I might wish to have transcribed, without 
having the opportunity of learning even the date of one of them — amounted, in fact, to a 
refusal of the application of the State. While referring to this subject, I cannot omit 
availing myself of the occasion to acknowledge the warm and ready interest Mr. Stevenson 
took in the objects of the Agency, and the personal obligations I feel for the courtesies he 
extended to the Agent. 

" ' Meantime, pursuant to my instructions and to Mr. Stevenson's advice, I had proceeded to 
Holland, with a view of investigating the archives of that country for documents relating 
to our early Colonial history ; intending, upon the termination of my researches in the 
Netherlands, to return to London, and avail myself of the expected liberality of the British 
government. Immediately on my arrival at the Hague, I opened the business of my mission 
to Mr. Bleecker, then the Charge d' Affaires of the United States near the King of the 
Netherlands. The well known interest of this gentleman in the cause of historical research, 
induced him to enter, at once, cordially into the views of the State; and I gladly and 
gratefully embrace this opportunity to renew the expression of my thanks for those valuable 
counsels, and friendly efforts to further the objects of my appointment, which he was always 
ready to give and anxious to make. 

" ' In order to obtain the necessary facilities for investigating the archives of the Netherlands, 
an application was addressed by Mr. Bleecker, on my behalf, to the Baron Verstolk de 
Soelen, Minister of Foreign Affairs. Upon my presentation to the King, a few days afterwards, 
His Majesty received me in the kindest manner, expressing much pleasure with the objects of 
my mission, and a warm interest in its successful accomplishment. The general direction of 
the royal archives being entrusted to the Minister of the Interior, the application was 
promptly referred to the Baron Schimmelpennick, the head of that department; and an 
interview was accordingly had with His Excellency, who at once informed me that he would 
give directions to the officer in charge of the archives to afford me all facilities for the 
purpose of fully carrying out the objects of my commission, and which had been directed by 
the King himself to be as liberal in their extent as the exigencies of the service would allow. 
"'The government records at the Hague are placed under the supervision of an 
" Archivarius," at present Yonkheer J. C. de Jonge, a gentleman of great intelligence and 
urbanity, and from whom I received numerous marks of kindness and courtesy, which I am 
happy to acknowledge. M. de Jonge, on my presenting myself at the archives, pointed out 
the various depositories in which the documents presumed to relate to the subject of my 
research were contained ; and gave directions that every book and paper, known or supposed 
to contain information affecting our Colonial history, be submitted, without reserve, to my 
inspection, and every arrangement made that could facilitate my labors. 

" ' The archives of the Netherlands, it is believed, constitute one of the richest depositories 
of historical information to be found in Europe ; commencing with the period of the Union 
of Utrecht, in 1579, and extending down to the French Revolution. They are contained in 



GENERAL INTRODUCTION. xxv 

an immense suite of apartments in the old palace of the Binnenhof ; and the documents are, 
in general, very well arranged, though not all equally well preserved. The greater part are 
contained in parchment-bound volumes, in most instances paged and indexed for convenient 
reference. They consist, chiefly, of minutes of the proceedings of the States-General, at their 
ordinary and secret meetings, kept by their Grcffiers, or clerks; in which are entered, in detail, 
the resolutions of that body on all matters coming before them. These registers commence 
with the year 1579, and are preserved in an unbroken series from that date. The diplomatic 
correspondence of the government, as well as copies of general letters, and also the 
instructions and commissions issued from time to time, are preserved in several separate series 
of books. The original papers and memorials, received by the States-General from time to 
time, are arranged on Luisscs, or files, or are tied up in bundles, which are deposited in the 
Secrete and Loket Kus. These papers have suffered much more from the effects of time and 
exposure than those in the bound volumes. 

" ' It was necessary that careful and laborious researches should be made in all these different 
repositories. Aided by the accurate knowledge and long experience of Mr. J. A. de Zwaan, 
the " Commis Chartermeester" at the royal archives — and whose enthusiastic and untiring 
cooperation, I am proud to acknowledge, contributed in an essential degree to the success of 
the research — I was unremittingly occupied during several months in a toilsome investigation, 
in the course of which upwards of four hundred volumes and bundles of papers were carefully 
examined. Many of the documents were worm-eaten and decayed ; and the circumstance 
that most of them were written in the perverse and obscure characters common in the 
seventeenth century, increased not a little the difficulty of the research. 

"' The results of my investigations in the archives at the Hague, however, strengthened the 
impression I had previously entertained, that though a great and valuable amount of 
information, on points either entirely novel, or at best but imperfectly known in our history, 
was there contained, the records of the Dutch West India Company, which had the supervision 
and direction of the Colony of New Netherland, were the grand magazine in which I might 
hope to find those more particular details of voyages, discoveries, emigrations, settlements and 
personal narratives, which would be of the highest interest to the descendants of the early 
settlers, as well as to the historian of New-York. Relying on the information which had 
been given me at the Hague, that these records, commencing with the period of the 
organization of the company in 1G21, were preserved complete at Amsterdam, an order was 
accordingly obtained from the Minister of the Colonies, directing the keeper of the old East 
and West India Companies' papers, at Amsterdam, to afford me every facility for examining the 
documents in his custody. The archives of the city of Amsterdam were also presumed to 
contain important information relative to the Colony of " Nieuw-Amstel," which that city 
undertook to manage in the year 1656; and a letter in my behalf was in consequence 
addressed by the Minister of the Interior to the Burgomaster. In further prosecution of my 
duty, I accordingly visited Amsterdam. 

" ' But, on applying at the West India House, I was, to my infinite surprise and mortifica- 
tion, informed by Mr. de Munnick, the keeper, that all the books, documents and papers of 
every kind, belonging to the old East and West India Companies, of a date prior to 1700, had 
been sold at public auction in the year 1821, by order of the government of the Netherlands. 
That nothing should be left undone, however, I instituted a thorough search among the 
remaining papers, in the hope that something, however small, might have escaped the opera- 

D 



XXVI 



GENERAL INTRODUCTION. 



tion of the order. But I regret to say that this examination was attended with no favorable 
result ; and I reluctantly abandoned the cherished hope that the archives of the West India 
Company would have proved a rich mine of historical wealth to our State. Examinations 
were also made in the papers of the East India Company, in the hope that something might 
be ascertained relative to Hudson's voyage of discovery, which was made in their service. 
The only trace found of that voyage is a memorandum in one of the " ship books," which 
accidentally escaped sale, stating that the yacht Halve-Maan, of forty lasts (eighty tons) 
burthen, had been sent " towards the north," in 1608. Unwilling, however, to abandon all 
hope of recovering a portion, at least, of the records which had been sold, I caused adver- 
tisements to be inserted in the most widely circulated journals of the country, requesting any 
person who might have in his possession any documents relating to the history of the Colony 
of New Netherland to have the goodness to communicate with the (then) Consul of the 
United States, at Amsterdam, Mr. J. W. Van den Broek. The kind attentions and friendly 
exertions of this gentleman, to further the objects of my visit to Amsterdam, have imposed 
on me an obligation which I would do great injustice to my feelings if I did not take this 
opportunity to acknowledge. It was subsequently ascertained that a portion of the records, 
sold at Amsterdam, was in the possession of the original buyer, a person residing at the 
Hague. I purchased permission of him to make an examination of this portion, which was 
accordingly effected. Nothing, however, relating to our history was found ; and the mortify- 
ing conviction is now forced upon us, that the papers of the West India Company relating 
to New Netherland — which, until the year 1821, were easily attainable by the State, and 
whose destruction has left such a chasm in the original materials for the illustration of our 
annals — are now irrecoverably lost! 

" ' The application to the authorities of the city of Amsterdam, for permission to examine 
their archives, was at once acceded to in the most courteous manner, and prompt arrange- 
ments were made to facilitate my investigations of the records in the Stad-Huys. Quite a 
number of interesting documents, relating to the City's Colony on the South river, were found 
and copied. 

" ' Examinations were also made of the valuable collections of manuscripts and pamphlets 
in the Royal library at the Hague ; and the most courteous attention was shown by the esti- 
mable librarian, Mr. J. W. Holtrop. 

" ' The result of my researches, in the various repositories in the Netherlands just referred 
to, is the procurement of sixteen volumes of transcripts, containing upwards of four thousand 
pages. As a full and accurate catalogue of the documents transcribed is appended to this 
report, it is unnecessary to give any particular analysis of their character here. I will only 
remark that they commence with the year 1614, and extend down, in a tolerably complete 
series, to 1678, consisting chiefly of memorials and papers presented to the States-General 
respecting New Netherland, and the proceedings of that body in relation to the various mat- 
ters from time to time brought before them affecting the Colony and its inhabitants. The 
act of the Legislature directed me to procure, if possible, the originals, and if not, copies of all 
documents illustrating our history. I applied for the originals, but the regulations of office 
did not allow a compliance with my request ; copies were therefore made of the papers 
selected. Not the slightest difficulty, however, occurred in obtaining these, and not a single 
objection was made to my having any document transcribed I wished. The most unbounded 
liberality was evinced on every occasion by the government of that country to which we 



GENERAL INTRODUCTION. xxvii 

trace, with such affectionate veneration, the foundation of our State, and the most friendly 
and gratifying interest was always exhibited by the gentlemen connected with the different 
departments of the administration, with whom the business of my mission from time to time 
brought me into communication. 

" ' The investigations in the archives of the Netherlands being now terminated, I returned 
to London in December, 1841, to prosecute the duties of my mission. A new ministry, with 
the Earl of Aberdeen as principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, bad come into power, 
and Mr. Stevenson had been succeeded by Mr. Everett as Minister of the United States, near 
Her Britannic Majesty. At the request of the Governor, and justly appreciating the 
importance to the Union, as well as to the State of New- York, of the objects contemplated 
by the State in sending an Agent to Europe, the President of the United States had instructed 
Mr. Everett to apply to the British government for such facilities as might be necessary for 
the successful prosecution of my proposed researches in England. 

" ' Directly on his arrival at London, I had an interview with Mr. Everett, and acquainted 
him fully with the objects of my mission, and with the previous steps that had been taken. 
It need scarcely be said that the views of the State were at once warmly and zealously entered 
into by the distinguished gentleman who represents our country in England, and whose 
friendly and valuable counsels have laid me under obligations I shall always be proud to 
acknowledge ; or that it was fortunate for the cause of literature and historical investigation 
that the Earl of Aberdeen was Foreign Secretary of Great Britain when the Agent of this 
State made a renewed attempt to obtain permission from Her Majesty's government to execute 
the duties of bis mission. No time was lost; and on the 23d December, 1841, Mr. Everett 
addressed a note to Lord Aberdeen, recapitulating the steps Mr. Stevenson had taken with 
the late ministry, and expressing a hope that the requisite facilities for the attainment of the 
objects of my mission would now be afforded by the government of Great Britain ; for which 
it is claimed that it has " never permitted itself to be surpassed by any other, in the 
countenance which it has at all times extended to every judicious effort for the promotion of 
useful knowledge." Some time subsequently, Lord Aberdeen having suggested that though 
it might not be possible for me to furnish a specific list of the historical documents desired, 
yet, that a general statement of their nature must be practicable, and would facilitate a 
decision on the pending application, I prepared a statement of the kind proposed, and as 
specific as the nature of the case admitted ; which Mr. Everett transmitted to his lordship, 
in a note dated 14th February, 1842, in which the purely literary character and objects of my 
commission were again urged, and the hope expressed that the synopsis I had prepared would 
remove whatever hesitation may have existed in reference to a compliance with my request. 
" ' It is unnecessary to detail the various difficulties that were encountered, and the many 
delays that occurred, before the desired permission was obtained. At length, on the 6th of 
April, 1842, I commenced my labors in " Her Majesty's State Paper Office." An order was 
sent by Lord Aberdeen to the keeper of the state papers, allowing me to inspect the 
documents in the office relative to the Province of New-York; with the understanding that 
my examinations were to be made in the presence of an officer of the establishment, and that 
I was merely, in the first instance, to indicate, by slips of paper, the documents I might wish 
to transcribe, and not to transcribe, or make extracts of any of them, until the papers so 
indicated should have been examined and allowed, on the part of Lord Aberdeen. 

" ' This order was interpreted by the keeper of the state papers with such strictness as to 
cause me serious embarrassment and inconvenience. I was not allowed to make the slightest 



xxv Jii GENERAL INTRODUCTION. 

note or memorandum, even of the date of a document; which, under the circumstances — the 
mass of papers to be gone over being so large — was desirable, and even necessary, in order 
to avoid the risk of marking duplicates, and the embarrassment of depending on memory alone. 
This, and other points — one of which was a permission to employ copyists of my own selec- 
tion, by whom the transcripts could have been made at a much less expense than that incurred 
by the charges of the regular clerks of the office — formed the subject of a subsequent note 
of Mr. Everett to Lord Aberdeen. His lordship promptly replied, giving me the further 
permission desired respecting the making memoranda, &c, but declining to accede to the 
request that I might be allowed to employ a private copyist. I was obliged, in consequence, 
to pay to the clerks of the office 4d. sterling for every folio of 72 words that they transcribed. 

" ' Her Majesty's State Paper Office, in London, is strictly a part of the Sovereign's own 
private library — an appendage to the Secretary of State's office. Being entirely a government 
establishment, it is not considered as on the same footing as the manuscript department of the 
British Museum, or other institutions of a like character. No person is allowed to visit the 
office, for the purpose of consulting documents, until an order for the purpose has been 
obtained from one of the Secretaries of State, who alone have the right of granting the 
privilege. This order usually specifies the series of papers to which the visitor is to have 
access ; and its directions are strictly and scrupulously followed by the keeper. This office 
is the depository of all papers and dispatches that pass through the offices of the Secretaries 
of State, which are there arranged under the superintendence of a keeper, deputy keeper, 
and other officials ; and the accurate and perfect manner in which this is done reflects the 
highest credit on the gentlemen to whom the government entrusts this important duty. The 
building in which these papers are contained was erected in the year 1830, in St. James' 
Park, near the government offices ; and is, in every respect, well adapted to its purposes. 
In addition to the papers from the offices of the Secretaries of State (among which is to be 
found a very voluminous correspondence with the Governors and Military Commanders in 
America), the State Paper Office now contains the whole of the records of the " Board of 
Trade," down to its dissolution, in the year 1782, which were transferred to it by order 
of government, in March, 1842. Upwards of two thousand large folio volumes, relating 
chiefly to the American Colonies, were thus added, in one mass, to this invaluable repository 
of historical wealth. 

" ' The general supervision and management of the British Plantations in America, and 
elsewhere, was entrusted by King Charles II., by royal commission, dated 1 December, 1660, 
to a standing council, who were instructed to correspond with the several Governors, &c, and 
in general to dispose of all matters relating to the good government and improvement of the 
Colonies. Subsequent commissions were from time to time issued to various individuals, sub- 
stantially of the same tenor, constituting them a Council for Foreign Plantations, for the time 
being. On the 21st of December, 1674, the King revoked the commission for the existing 
council, and directed their books and papers to be delivered to the clerk of the Privy Council. 
By order in council, dated 12 March, 1675, King Charles II. referred whatever matters had 
been under the cognizance of the late Council of Trade and Foreign Plantations to a commit- 
tee of the Privy Council, consisting of the Lord Treasurer, the Lord Privy Seal, and others, 
and directed them to meet once a week, and report their proceedings to the King in council, 
from time to time. During the reign of King James II., the affiiirs of the Plantations con- 
tinued to be managed by a similar committee of Privy Council ; and upon the accession of this 



GENERAL INTRODUCTION. xx i x 

monarch (6 February, 1685), the Province of New -York having devolved to the Crown, it was 
placed under the supervision of this committee. Upon the accession of King William III., in 
February, 1689, a committee of the Privy Council continued to manage the affairs of the 
Plantations, until their growing importance suggested the necessity of a separate and distinct 
department of government for their direction. 

" ' The year 1696 is the era of the permanent organization of what is familiarly known to 
our historians as the " Board of Trade." On the loth May, in that year, King William III., by 
royal commission, constituted and appointed the great officers of state, for the time being, and 
certain other persons, " Commissioners, during the royal pleasure, for promoting the trade of 
the Kingdom, and for inspecting and improving the Plantations in America, and elsewhere." 
This board was empowered and required to examine into the general condition of the trade of 
England, and of foreign parts, and to make representations to the King thereupon ; to take 
into their custody all records and papers belonging to the Plantation Office; to inquire into 
the condition of the Plantations; to examine into the instructions of the Governors, &c, and 
represent their conduct to the King ; to present the names of proper persons for Governors 
and Secretaries, &c, in the Colonies, to the King in council ; to examine into and consider 
the acts passed in the Colonies ; to hear complaints, and make representations thereupon, &c. ; 
and with power to send for persons and papers. The Board of Trade and Plantations, as thus 
organized, was continued through the succeeding reigns, by royal commissions, until its final 
dissolution, by act of Parliament, in July, 1782. 

" ' The records of the Board of Trade were kept with much care and system. Their 
proceedings on all subjects brought before them were accurately entered in a series of large 
folio journals, commencing with 1696 and extending down to 1782; and which, including 
the records of the proceedings of the Committee of Privy Council, between 1675 and 1696, 
number about 130 volumes. 

" ' The documents relating to the affairs of each Province and Colony were regularly and 
separately preserved in two series of books ; the one styled " Entries," in which were recorded 
all the letters and rejsresentations of the board in reference to its concerns ; and the other 
entitled " Papers," in which all the original documents received at Whitehall were carefully 
bound up. There are 123 large volumes of " Entries " and " Papers," relating to the Province 
of New -York, in the Board of Trade series, commencing with 1664 and extending to 1782; 
in which are included the documents relating to the proprietary government under the Duke 
of York, which were transferred to the Committee for Foreign Plantations, &c, upon the 
devolution of the Province to the Crown on the accession of King James II. Documents of 
general concern to all the Provinces and Colonies were recorded and preserved in a separate 
series of books, amounting to sixty, entitled " Plantations General." 

" ' The records of the State Paper Office, properly, are not nearly so perfect, especially in 
the earlier periods, as those of the Board of Trade. It was only in matters of great secrecy 
and concern that the Provincial Governors were required to correspond directly with the 
Secretaries of State ; and it is probably in consequence of this that there are only six volumes 
of New -York records from the Secretary's office between 1696 and 1752. These volumes 
are composed, chiefly, of letters from the Governors to the Secretaries, which are, in many 
instances, almost literal copies of those sent to the Lords of Trade. There are very few 
letters from the Secretaries to the Governors during this period. There are no Secretary of 
State's records whatever, relating to New-York, between 1752 and 1762 ; but after this year, 



XXX 



GENERAL INTRODUCTION. 



and down to 1781, the correspondence is full and voluminous ; that relating to this Province, 
alone, filliu"- nineteen large folio volumes, and comprising, as well, the letters of the Secreta- 
ries to the Governors. Besides the several series relating to the different Provinces, there is 
a set of volumes, numbering eighteen, entitled " Plantations General," in which the general 
correspondence of the Secretaries with the Colonies and with the Superintendents of Indian 
Affairs, &c, between 1760 and 1781, is preserved. 

" ' In addition to the volumes above mentioned, amounting in all to 356, a series of books, 
sixty-two in number, entitled " Trade Papers," embracing a miscellaneous collection of docu- 
ments relating to trade and foreign plantations from 1542 to 1761, was submitted to my 
inspection, agreeably to the terms of the Secretary of State's order. In the course of my 
researches I ascertained that there were other sets of books and papers in which documents 
relating to our history were contained, but which my order, as it stood, did not allow me to 
examine. I was consequently obliged to apply to Lord Aberdeen for further permissions, 
which were granted ; and nearly a hundred other volumes and bundles of papers were sub- 
mitted to my inspection. 

" ' Thus upwards of five hundred volumes and bundles of papers were thoroughly and 
carefully examined in the State Paper Office. Each document desired for transcription was 
indicated by a slip of paper, and subsequently reexamined by a gentleman connected with the 
Foreign Office, under Lord Aberdeen's direction. Such of them only as were not objected to 
were copied. The copies were made by the regular clerks of the office on the terms above 
stated ; and in every instance the orthography of the originals was scrupulously followed. 
In making my selections, the greatest care and caution were necessary in order to avoid 
marking duplicates of papers, which are very numerous ; and the immense number of the 
documents themselves, and the unexpectedly high charge for transcribing, were also causes 
of considerable embarrassment. I cannot close this reference to my researches in the State 
Paper Office, without bearing testimony to the excellent and orderly arrangement of every 
part of the establishment ; and I should be greatly wanting to my feelings if I were to omit 
an expression of my admiration of the politeness and attention of Messrs. Charles Lechmere 
and Robert Lemon, the deputy keeper and chief clerk. To the latter gentleman, particu- 
larly, I feel under great obligations, not only for his personal courtesies to myself, but for 
the ready and zealous interest he manifested in the success of the undertaking I was charged 
by the State to execute. 

" ' Presuming that the office of the Privy Council might contain information relative to the 
subject of my reserach, I addressed a note to Mr. Greville, one of the clerks in ordinary, 
requesting permission to examine its earlier records. A prompt and most courteous answer 
was returned, complying with my request ; and I examined the registers under the care of the 
librarian of the archives, Mr. Henry Reeve, to whose kindness I am much indebted for 
the facilities he afforded me. Very few documents, however, were found relating to our 
Colonial history. There are no separate papers whatever, in the Privy Council Office, of a 
date prior to 1700 ; but the registers of its proceedings are preserved complete from the time 
of Queen Elizabeth. 

" ' The library of the British Museum, already a magnificent monument of the public spirit 
of the nation, is daily becoming more and more worthy the admiration of the world. The 
collection of printed books and pamphlets, whose number, though not accurately known, 
certainly exceeds 300,000 volumes, is one of the most perfect in existence ; and there are 



GENERAL INTRODUCTION. xxx [ 

nearly 40,000 volumes of manuscripts. The arrangements for the examination of these 
literary treasures are very convenient ; and though, in such a metropolis as London, some 
regulations are necessary to exclude improper persons, those regulations are so easy to be 
complied with that the library may be said to be, in effect, open to the public. Through the 
kind and polite attention of Sir Henry Ellis, the principal librarian, I had every facility 
afforded me for examining the various printed and manuscript collections, and quite a number 
of transcripts were made of papers bearing upon our history. While speaking of this noble 
institution, I may be permitted to remark that nowhere else was I more strongly convinced 
of the indispensable necessity, to the investigator, of accurate catalogues, both for printed 
books and for manuscripts. There is now in course of preparation a systematic alphabetical 
catalogue of the printed works, of such comprehensiveness, that the letter "A" alone occu- 
pies about twenty large folio volumes. Notwithstanding the active and skilful exertions of 
the learned and competent gentlemen who are engaged in this important work, it will be 
many years before it can be completed. The manuscripts are already catalogued and their 
examination thus rendered perfectly easy. The Harleian, the Lansdowne and the Cottonian 
collections, by means of their accurate catalogues, which were published some years ago by 
government, are almost as well known to literary men on this side of the ocean as to those 
in Europe ; and each addition to the manuscript department, as it is received, is at once 
catalogued and thus rendered accessible. 

" ' The Archiepiscopal library at Lambeth has also afforded us some interesting historical 
materials. My application to the Archbishop of Canterbury for permission to make researches 
in the library was promptly and cheerfully complied with ; and it gives me great satisfaction 
to have this opportunity of acknowledging the very marked liberality of the venerable 
prelate at the head of the English Church, as well as the urbanity and friendly interest dis- 
played by His Grace's librarian, the Rev. S. R. Maitland, in making every arrangement for 
my convenient examination of the documents in his custody. 

" ' From the various repositories in London, to which reference has just been made, I pro- 
cured nearly seventeen thousand pages of transcripts of documents relating to our history, 
which fill forty-seven volumes. A complete and accurate catalogue of the " London Docu- 
ments" is appended to this report, by means of which the character of each paper can be at 
once ascertained, and any particular analysis of the series, at present, is thus rendered unne- 
cessary. It commences with 1614 and ends with 1782 ; comprising the official correspon- 
dence of the Governors of New-York, from its surrender by the Dutch in 1664 to the end of 
the Revolution, as well as various documents of interest received from private hands. In 
making my selections, the greatest care was taken to avoid procuring papers known to be 
already in the Secretary of State's office, at Albany. I was unable to find any traces of the 
original books of records of the Indian Commissioners, which are supposed to have been 
removed from this State during the Revolutionary war; but copies have been made of all Sir 
William Johnson's official letters to the British government, which remain in the State Paper 
Office, as well as of the greater part of the proceedings respecting Indian affairs, which were 
from time to time sent to London. 

" ' It will, perhaps, be noticed that previous to 1674 there are 'no dispatches or 
communications from the Duke of York or his secretary to his officers in New-York, and but 
few from them to His Royal Highness. The first entry book, or record of letters from the 
Duke, commences with 1674, and from that period they are tolerably well preserved. There 



xxx ii GENERAL INTRODUCTION. 

are several deficiencies in the series of letters from Governor Nicolls, and very few of 
Governor Lovelace's communications were found. There does not seem to have been any 
file of Governor Andros' letters, to the Duke or Sir John Werden, handed to the Committee 
for Trade and Plantations when the affairs of the Province came under its supervision, upon 
the devolution of New- York, to the Crown, on the accession of King James II. ; but after 
that date the records are much more perfect. After the final organization of the Board of 
Trade, by King William III., in 1696, the New-York papers are full and complete. 

'" The policy of France in regard to her Canadian possessions — the establishment of her 
military positions on our frontiers, and her negotiations with the Indian tribes on our borders, 
and within the very limits of our territory itself, are directly and intimately connected with our 
Colonial history; and her long struggle to maintain her influence in the northern portion of 
our continent, affected, in no small degree, the condition, disposition and purposes of the 
people of New-York. It was with a view of obtaining authentic historical materials, 
illustrating these points, that an examination of the archives of the French government was 
made a part of my duty. 

" ' Having made some progress in my researches in London, and commenced the transcription 
of documents there, I wrote to General Cass, then Minister of the United States at Paris, 
explaining the objects of the State, and requesting his intervention with the French government 
for the purpose of procuring me permission to examine its archives for papers relating to 
Canada and New-York. A simple statement of my object was all that was necessary to 
awaken the warmest interest of that eminent gentleman ; and he forthwith applied, on my behalf, 
to Admiral Baron Duperre, then Minister of the Marine and the Colonies, for permission to 
examine the papers relating to Canada in the bureaus of his department. An answer was 
promptly returned, authorizing me to make the researches I wished, without limitation; and 
adding, that " all the facilities he can desire will be accorded" to the Agent. I will only 
remark, in passing, that this liberality did not prove to be mere formal phrase. 

" ' In further prosecution of the duties of my mission, I accordingly went to Paris in June, 
1842, and commenced my examinations in the archives of the Marine and the Colonies. The 
general management of the French dependencies in America having been from an early period 
entrusted to this department, its archives are very rich in materials relating to their history. 
They consist chiefly of instructions of the French government to its agents in America ; letters 
and dispatches to the King and his ministers, and original papers from the Colonial authorities 
to the Home government; correspondence with the neighboring English Colonies; reports of 
interviews with the Indian tribes; plans of campaigns and details of battles and skirmishes, 
&c, &c. 

"' The documents relating to Canada and New-York are contained in two several divisions. 
The one is a series of bound volumes, commencing with the year 1663 and ending very 
abruptly with 1737. It comprises about 70 volumes, and contains the dispatches and 
commissions of the King and his ministers to the Governors and other functionaries in the 
French Colonies. It is greatly to be regretted that the volumes subsequent to 1737 appear to 
be missing. The other, and by far the most fertile repository, is a series of upwards of an 
hundred enormous "cartons" or port-folios, each larger than two ordinary folio volumes, and 
in which, at the time of my examination, were placed loosely and without chronological order, 
or even the least attempt at arrangement, a mass of original documents relating to Canada, 
from 1630 to the Treaty of Paris, 10th February, 1763. The state of deplorable confusion in 



GENERAL INTRODUCTION. XXXW 

which I found the contents of these cartons can scarcely be conceived by any one who has not 
made personal investigations, and it must be very evident that it was embarrassing in no 
small degree. It not only very greatly increased the labor of the research, but it was found 
that in many instances papers of presumed importance were missing from the mass. It is 
hoped, however, that under the superintendence of the present competent and intelligent chief 
of the archives, M. Davezac, these valuable papers, whose present confusion (one of the results, 
perhaps, of the Revolutionary fury of 1793) exhibits such a striking contrast to the system and 
order that generally prevail in the French government bureaus, will soon be arranged in a 
manner consistent with their high importance and worthy the dignity of the nation. Several 
months were occupied in a careful and toilsome investigation of these documents, and such as 
were found to relate to our history were selected and transcribed. 

" ' Knowing, however, that the archives of the Department of the Marine and the Colonies 
was not the only source from which to obtain information, an application was addressed to 
the Minister of War, Marshal Soult, Duke of Dalmatia, which was promptly answered by a 
letter stating that orders had been given for my admission to the depot and archives of the 
War Department, " for the purpose of examining and copying all the documents relative to 
the operations of the French, in Canada, until the period of the Treaty of Paris, in 1763." 
This frank and liberal order, so characteristic of the gallant soldier who presides over the 
Council of Ministers, was very handsomely carried into effect by General Baron Pelet, the 
Director-General of the archives of the department, to whose obliging and polite attention I 
am very greatly indebted for the facilities he afforded me for examining the documents in his 
custody. The archives of the Department of War present a very gratifying contrast, in respect 
to arrangement, to those of the Marine and the Colonies. The papers are chronologically 
arranged in bound volumes, and their examination was as agreeable and pleasant as that of 
the cartons of the Marine was laborious and annoying. The documents selected and 
transcribed relate chiefly to the period between 175-5 and the treaty of Paris, and comprise 
the correspondence of the Military Commanders in America with the French government. 

" « An application was also made for permission to examine the archives of the Department 
of Foreign Affairs, for papers relating to the history of Canada, and the intercourse between 
that Colony and the Province of New-York ; but M. Guizot, in his reply to Gen. Cass' note, 
thus expressed himself: " I would be very happy to comply with your request, if my department 
possessed any documents relative to this Colony; but the Ministry of the Marine, to which 
you have already applied, is the only one which can furnish you with information on this 
subject, Canada having always been under its supervision, and never having had any relations 
with my department." 

" ' Researches were also made in the collections in the Royal library at Paris; a most full 
and unqualified permission for which purpose was granted by Mr Villemain, the Minister of 
Public Instruction, and every facility afforded by the gentleman in charge of this magnificent 
institution. 

"'My investigations in the several repositories at Paris, just alluded to, occupied me several 
months, and resulted in the procurement of seventeen volumes of transcripts, containing 
upwards of six thousand pages. A full and accurate catalogue of the "Paris Documents," in 
which every paper, its date, and a reference to its page, is indicated, being also appended to 
this report, renders any particular reference to their contents unnecessary in this place. 
They commence with 1631, and extend to 1763; including selections of the correspondence 

R 



XXX IV 



GENERAL INTRODUCTION. 



of the Governors of Canada with the authorities in France respecting Indian affairs, the 
relations with this Province, &c, as well as the dispatches of the Military Commanders during 
the romantic and exciting period in our history of the " French War." 

" ' As at the Hague and in London, the regul; tions of the offices at Paris did not allow me 
to execute that part of the law, establishing the Agency, requiring the procurement, if possible, 
of original documents. Transcripts were made, therefore, of the papers selected, and the 
ortho°raphy of the originals was followed as accurately as possible. In closing this reference 
to my researches at Paris, I cannot forbear the remark, that the proverbial reputation of the 
French government, in regard to all matters connected with scientific and literary investigation, 
was amply sustained in the courtesies that were extended to the Agent of this State ; and that 
the historical treasures which were found in its archives are only equaled by the prompt and 
generous liberality with which they were thrown open to my inspection. That much of the 
good feeling exhibited was owing to the high standing of our Minister at the French Court, 
is unquestionable ; and I feel it a duty, not less incumbent than grateful, again to acknowledge 
the marked kindness of General Cass, and the personal and zealous exertions he never failed 
making, to render my visit to Paris most advantageous to the State. 

"'The researches in the French archives being completed, I returned to London and was 
some time occupied in further investigations, and in making preparations for my return to 
America. The documents transcribed at Paris and in London were carefully packed, insured 
and shipped for New-York ; and my arrangements having been completed, I embarked for 
home on the 7th July, 1844. 

" ' From this detail of proceedings, it will be perceived that the execution of my mission was 
attended with considerable embarrassment. This occurred chiefly in London, where the 
regulations of office were much more stringent than at the Hague or in Paris. In both these 
latter places there was no difficulty experienced, either in obtaining access to the archives or 
in procuring transcripts at reasonable rates. The price paid for copies was about eleven cents 
for each page. In London, however, as before stated, my application for permission to employ 
a private copyist having failed, I was obliged to pay to the regular clerks in the State Paper 
Office 4d. sterling for every folio of seventy-two words, or about twenty-five cents for an 
ordinary page transcribed. This circumstance, and the unexpectedly large number of volumes 
to be examined, caused me much embarrassment. It became desirable to limit my selections 
as much as possible, in order to keep the expenses within the amount of the funds appropriated 
for the Agency ; while at the same time my duty did not allow me to pass by a single document 
coming under my observation, " important" to illustrate our history. I have before stated 
that, in the course of my investigations in the State Paper Office, I ascertained that there were 
other series of books and papers than those the terms of my original permission allowed me to 
inspect, containing information respecting our history; and that a subsequent order from Lord 
Aberdeen gave me the liberty to examine a large number of additional volumes. I am far 
from affirming, however, that everything in relation to our history, in the British archives, has 
been obtained ; though I think it may safely be said that the greater and more valuable portion 
of the materials there preserved has been secured. Had sufficient funds been placed at my 
disposal, I should have pursued my researches until everything accessible had been obtained ; 
and should especially have endeavored to procure copies of the correspondence of the British 
Military Conrmanders in America, from the surrender of Canada to the end of the American 
Revolution. 



GENERAL INTRODUCTION. xxxv 

" ' The selection of documents was a point necessarily left to the discretion of the Agent; and 
in the execution of this important duty 1 adopted for my rule a principle which cannot be 
belter expressed than in the words of the Editors of the "Clarendon State Papers," who say 
in their preface — " In so large a collection, there occurred, as might well be expected, some 
papers of a private nature, others of no consequence to the public. To separate these from the 
rest was a poiut left to the discretion of the Editors by the Trustees of the late Lord Hyde. 
Such, therefore, as appeared to them in either of these lights are rejected from publication. 
They have used their best judgment, and the utmost caution, in acquitting themselves of this 
trust ; and if there are still any given which may appear to some to be scarce worthy of 
publication, they desire it may be considered that men's ideas of such matters are often very 
different, and that any particular paper which, upon being perused apart from the rest, may 
seem of too little consequence to merit the public notice, would yet have been very improperly 
suppressed, either because it may be connected with and tend to illustrate a more interesting 
paper, or on account of some other circumstance which may not immediately occur to 
the reader." 

,; 'Immediately on my arrival in New-York, in August last, I waited on Governor Bouck, and 
acquainted him with the results of my mission. As the transcripts made in London and in 
Paris were unarranged, and as it was essential to their usefulness that they should be disposed 
in accurate chronological order, bound into volumes, and carefully indexed, before being 
deposited in the Secretary of State's office, the Governor thought it best that I should 
occupy myself with this duty, and report fully to the Executive upon its completion. I have, 
accordingly, been diligently engaged in the execution of this work since August last. 

" 'The transcripts were all separately made, and in such a manner that they could be afterwards 
arranged in proper order. This was necessarily the case, as the originals were not all contained 
in one particular set of books or papers, but were scattered through many and various series. 
The documents copied at the Hague, and in Amsterdam, were all arranged and indexed by 
myself during leisure evening hours, while in London, in the winter and spring of 1S43, and 
were bound and sent to Albany in the summer of that year. These "Holland Documents" 
occupy, as before stated, sixteen volumes, and have been for more than a year in the 
Secretary of State's office. In arranging the " London Documents," great care was necessary, 
in order to avoid the apparent confusion of dates caused by the use of the Old Style, which 
prevailed in England till the year 1752. It is believed, however, that this point has been 
carefully guarded, and that the plan I adopted, viz: the use of the Historical year (which 
commenced on the 1st of January) instead of the Legal year (which commenced on the 25th 
March), and of the Old Style, until 1752, when the act of Parliament took effect, will be found 
to have been judicious, and to meet the approbation of the investigator. The " Paris 
Documents" are arranged according to the New Style, which was adopted in France in 1582. 

" ' The calendars to the " Holland," " London " and " Paris " Documents, appended to this 
report, have been prepared with much care, and it is hoped will be found useful. They indicate 
the number of each document in the volume, its general scope and character, its date, and its 
page; and thus, persons at a distance will be enabled to ascertain at once the contents and the 
bearing of each paper in the whole series of eighty volumes of European transcripts. 

" 'By the act of the 2d May, 1839, establishing the Agency, the sum of four thousand dollars 
was appropriated towards defraying its expenses. On the 11th of April, 1842, a further sum 
of three thousand dollars was appropriated by law for its prosecution ; and on the 13th of 



xvxv i GENERAL INTRODUCTION. 

April, 1S43, a further sum of five thousand dollars was appropriated hy the Legislature. These 
several appropriations, amounting to twelve thousand dollars, have been drawn from the 
treasury and entirely exhausted in defraying the expenses of my mission ; accurate accounts for 
which have been rendered to the Comptroller. I will only add, that I have advanced from my 
own private means a considerable amount, in addition, which has been applied to defraying 
the expenses of transportation, insurance, binding, and other incidentals connected with the 
arranging and cataloguing of the documents; in which duty, as before stated, I have been 
constantly occupied since the month of August last. 

" ' I have endeavored to lay before your Excellency as full and as concise a report as possible 
of the execution of the duties of the Agency I had the honor to have entrusted to me by the 
government of my State. The whole question of this Agency, and of its results, is now before 
my fellow-citizens, and to their judgment it is cheerfully submitted. Under any circumstances, 
and in any event, and however unworthy the instrument selected to execute her high 
commission, it must ever be a source of proud reflection that the State of New-York — not less 
faithful now, in her time of power and greatness, to her honor and to her fame, than in her day 
of difficulty and oppression to the principles she then so fearlessly asserted — has been among 
the foremost of the Confederation to vindicate her self-respect to the world, by rescuing from 
obscurity and long neglect the scattered memorials of her Colonial existence, to place them 
side by side the records of her independent progress. 
" ' I have the honor to be, Sir, 

" ' Very respectfully, 

" 'Your Excellency's obedient servant, 

'"JOHN ROMEYN BRODHEAD. 

" 'Albany, 12th February, 1845.' " 

The message of the Governor, and the Agent's final report, communicated therewith, 
were referred to a select committee of the Senate, of which Mr. Folsom was chairman. 
On the 5th of May, 1845, that committee made the following report: 

" A respect for the memorials of the past may be justly considered as one of the marks 
of advanced civilization. Among savage nations the only care is for the supply of present 
wants, which, being exclusively of a physical nature, like those of irrational animals, are 
easily satisfied, with equal indifference to the past and the future. But as mankind rise in 
the scale of intelligence, a growing solicitude is felt in regard to circumstances and events 
beyond the present moment ; the necessity of making provision for future exigencies becomes 
more and more apparent, and leads to untiring exertion to accomplish so important an end. 
It is reserved, however, for a still higher degree of progress to develope any considerable 
interest respecting the past. It is an old utilitarian maxim that makes a dead lion of less 
claim to consideration than a living ass ; and the mind requires to be raised above the 
ordinary calculations of mere thrift to appreciate the value of what no longer possesses actual 
power or influence in the esteem of the busy world. The monuments of history, standing 
aside in the seclusion of by-places and deserted spots, or buried beneath what is generally 
regarded as the useless rubbish of the remains of antiquity, are passed by with indifference 



GENERAL INTRODUCTION. xxxvii 

until an enlightened desire is awakened to know something of the early foundations of 
society, or to explore the sources of national greatness. 

" It has been made a subject of reproach to this country, by the enemies of republican 
institutions, that no care is taken among us to preserve our ancient records — a charge 
implying a semi-barbarous condition of society, and far from complimentary to our national 
character. But admitting its truth, to a considerable extent, there is good reason to believe 
it will not be long deserved ; for public attention is beginning to be more and more directed 
to the importance of rescuing from destruction whatever may tend to illustrate the rise and 
progress of our institutions, and exhibit, in bolder relief, the character and labors of the 
pioneers of civilization upon the shores of the New World. 

" It is the misfortune of this State that its early founders have been held up to the ridicule 
of the world by one of its most gifted sons, who has exhausted the resources of his wit and 
satire in exposing imaginary traits in their characters, while the most polished efforts of his 
graver style have been reserved to adorn the Corinthian columns of the more aristocratic 
institutions of foreign countries. A late excellent writer, the author of a valuable History of 
the United States, although a stranger to our country, has spoken in proper terms on this 
subject; he remarks as follows : ' Founders of ancient colonies have sometimes been deified 
by their successors. New-York is perhaps the only commonwealth whose founders have 
been covered with ridicule from the same quarter. It is impossible to read the ingenious 
and diverting romance entitled Knickerbocker's History of New-York, without wishing 
that the author had put a little more or a little less truth in it ; and that his talent for 
humor and sarcasm had found another subject than the dangers, hardships and virtues of the 
ancestors of his national family. It must be unfavorable to patriotism to connect historical 
recollections with ludicrious associations.' 

" To remove the reproach thus thoughtlessly attached to the annals of our State, it is 
only necessary to bring to light the true character of its early colonists, whose father-land 
ranked at that period among the foremost nations of Europe in point of commercial wealth 
and enterprise, and before all others in the freedom of its government ; a freedom purchased 
by forty years' struggle against the bloodthirsty myrmidons of Spanish despotism. The traits 
ascribed by the mock historian to the first settlers of New-York can scarcely be supposed 
to have characterized such a people ; on the other hand, the manly virtues they displayed 
amidst the toils and hardships of colonial life, removed at so great a distance from the scenes 
of their early associations, deserve a very different commemoration at the hands of their 
descendants and successors. 

"The New-York Historical Society — an institution that has done much to preserve the 
historical records of our States — first suggested to the Legislature the propriety of searching 
the archives of the Netherlands, and other European governments, for documents illustrative 
of the early history of the State. In compliance with a memorial from that institution, the 
Legislature passed the act of May 2d, 1839, authorizing the Governor and Senate ' to appoint 
an Agent to visit England, Holland and France, for the purpose of procuring copies of all such 
documents and papers, in the archives and offices of those governments, relating to or in any 
way affecting the Colonial or other history of this State.' The sum of four thousand dollars 
was at the same time appropriated to carry out the objects of the Agency, which, by two sub- 
sequent appropriations, was increased to twelve thousand dollars. On the 15th of January, 
IS41, nearly two years after the passage of the law, John Romeyn Brodhead, of the county 



XXXvifl GENERAL INTRODUCTION. 

of Ulster, was appointed to this Agency, and embarked for England on the first of May fol- 
lowing, for the purpose of entering upon the duties of his mission. A copy of his instructions, 
from the Executive of the State, is annexed to this report. 

" In pursuance of these instructions, Mr. Brodhead, on his arrival in London, applied to 
the British government for permission to make transcripts of such documents in its archives 
as related to our Colonial history. The application appears to have been coldly received by 
Lord Palmerston, then Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, notwithstanding the 
kind offices rendered to the Agent by Mr. Stevenson, Minister from the United States near that 
government ; and, without losing time, Mr. Brodhead proceeded at once to Holland, where 
a very different reception awaited him. Repairing to the Hague, he was presented to the 
King by the Hon. Harmanus Bleecker, the American Minister to the Netherlands ; and it 
was soon found that His Majesty took a lively interest in the objects of the mission, and was 
disposed to grant every possible facility to aid the researches of the Agent. It seems to have 
been regarded in that country as a gratifying circumstance, that the descendants of Dutch 
ancestors, who had left the father-land two centuries ago, should so far cherish the remem- 
brance of their ancient lineage as to dispatch one of their number across the wide ocean to 
seek memorials of the olden time ; and a warm feeling of kindness was extended by all 
classes towards the Agent, and liberal arrangements were made to lighten and facilitate his 
labors. 

" The results of Mr. Brodhead's researches in Holland are sixteen volumes of transcripts 
in the Dutch language, an analysis of which is contained in his printed calendar. It will be 
observed that these documents comprise a great variety of details relative to the original 
discovery and settlement of our State; commencing with notices of the first navigators who 
explored the North and East rivers, and embracing copies of the decrees of the States-Gene- 
ral, granting the privileges of trade and further discovery to companies of merchants, which 
led to the subsequent colonization by patroons or patentees of lands. One of these grants, 
bearing date October 11th, 1614, is accompanied by a descriptive map of the North river and 
the adjacent country, executed within five years after the discovery by Hudson. It only 
remains that the seal of a foreign language should be taken off from these valuable and 
curious records, to render them accessible to all ; and to this end the committee would 
recommend that a suitable person be employed to translate them at the public expense. 

" Among these documents the committee would particularly notice one that possesses 
peculiar interest in its relation to the Dutch Colony on the Island of Manhattan. The precise 
year in which that Colony was planted is not known ; the oldest records in possession of the 
State, before the receipt of these documents, commence with the administration of Governor 
Kieft, in the year 1G38, with the single exception of some grants of land which go back to 
1630. But there was found a few years ago among the papers of Governor Bradford, of the 
Plymouth Colony, a correspondence between that functionary and the Dutch authorities of 
New Netherland, on the Island of Manhattan, bearing date in the year 1627 ; and Bradford, 
in a letter written at that time, says of the Dutch, ' that for strength of men and fortifica- 
tions they far exceed them and all others in the country.' Until the reception of these fruits 
of the Agency, we were thus indebted to another Colony for the first notice of the coloniza- 
tion of our own State. It is true, a few trading houses had been established, and forts 
erected, both on Manhattan Island and at Albany, several years before ; but no accounts of a 
regular settlement of the country by families from Holland at that early date have reached us. 



GENERAL INTRODUCTION. xxxix 

" The document alluded to, although brief, enables us to show the existence of the Colony 
still earlier than the correspondence with Governor Bradford. The attention of the Legislature 
has already been called to it, in a report made to this body during the last session, but for a 
very different purpose, and in an incomplete and inaccurate translation ; it is therefore 
reproduced here. It is a letter written from Amsterdam by Mr. Schagen, the Deputy of the 
States-General at the meeting of the West India Company, to the Dutch Government at 
the Hague, announcing the arrival at Amsterdam of a ship from New Netherland, with advices 
from the Dutch colonists on the Island of Manhattan ; bearing date November 5th, 1626. The 
following is a translation of this document : 

"'TO THE HIGH AND MIGHTY LORDS OF THE STATES-GENERAL AT THE HAGUE: 

" ' My Lords, — There arrived here yesterday the ship called the "Arms of Amsterdam," 
which sailed from the river Mauritius [the Hudson], in New-Netherland, on the 23d of 
September. Report is brought that our people there are diligent, and live peaceably ; their 
wives have also borne them children. They have purchased the Island of Manhattes from the 
Indians for the sum of sixty guilders ; it contains 11,000 morgens of land. They have sown 
all kinds of grain in the middle of May, and reaped in the middle of August. I send you 
small samples of the summer grains, as wheat, rye, barley, oats, buckwheat, canary seed, 
beans and flax. 

" ' The cargo of the ship consists of 7,246 beaver skins, 

118i otter 
675 " " 

48 mink " 

36 cat-lynx " 

33 mink 

34 small rat " 
together with a considerable quantity of oak timber and nut-wood. 

" ' Commending your High and Mighty Lordships to the favor of the Almighty, 

" ' I am your High Mightinesses' humble servant, 

" ' P. SCHAGEN. 
" 'At Amsterdam, Nov. 5th, anno 1626.' 

" The historical value and interesting character of this document cannot fail to strike any 
one who is capable of appreciating the first efforts to introduce the arts of civilized life into a 
new and widely extended domain, which has since grown from these small beginnings into 
a large and flourishing commonwealth, excelling in population and resources some of the 
monarchies of the Old World. 

"Some doubt has hitherto existed in regard to the name of the Director-General or Governor 
of the Colony prior to the year 1633 ; and although it was generally supposed that the office 
was then held by Peter Minuit, yet no official act of that person as chief magistrate was 
among our records. The fact is now established by the discovery of an original grant of lands, 
signed by Peter Minuit and his Council, dated at Fort Amsterdam, July 15th, 1630. The 
original parchment containing this grant was procured by Mr. Brodhead, and is now deposited 



x \ GENERAL INTRODUCTION. 

in the Secretary of State's office. It is the only official act now extant of the first Governor 
of the Colony. 

" It is not, however, the intention of the committee in this report to pursue the analysis of 
the documents procured by Mr. Brodhead from the different archives to which he had access. 
The calendars printed with his report are sufficient for this purpose, and exhibit with great 
clearness the variety and richness of materiel comprised in the collection. 

"The committee will only add, that Mr. Brodhead, having finished his labors in Holland, 
returned to London in December, 1841, where in the meantime a change of ministry had 
taken place — Lord Palmerston having been succeeded by Lord Aberdeen in the office of Foreign 
Secretary. A more friendly policy towards the objects of the Agency was now manifested, 
and, with the valuable aid of the new American Minister, Mr. Everett, the preliminary difficulties 
were removed, and Mr. Brodhead entered upon the labors of his mission ; not, however, 
without encountering many precautions of the government, that contributed to embarrass these 
labors and add to the trouble and expense attending them. It will be observed, in the report 
of Mr. Brodhead, that he did not confine his researches in England to the archives of state, 
but extended them to the magnificent collections of manuscripts contained in the British 
Museum, as well as other repositories in London and its vicinity. 

"In the summer of 1842, Mr. Brodhead proceeded to Paris, where the active kindness of 
General Cass, the American Minister, procured him all desirable facilities. The seventeen 
volumes of transcripts obtained in the French capital commence with the year 1631 and 
extend to 1763. They are beautifully engrossed, and will be consulted with great interest by 
every student of American history, especially in relation to the border wars that led to the 
final reduction of Canada and the extinction of French power on this Continent. 

"Having completed his researches in Paris, Mr. Brodhead returned to England, and on the 
7th of July, 1844, embarked for New -York, where he arrived early in the following month. 
Immediately after his arrival, he reported himself to Governor Bouck, and made known to 
him the general results of his mission. From that time until the date of his final report, the 
12th of February last, he was employed at the city of New -York in arranging the documents 
in chronological order, framing indexes, and preparing his report. The documents were at 
the same time bound up in eighty distinct volumes, viz : Sixteen volumes of Holland 
Documents, seventeen volumes of Paris Documents, and forty-seven volumes of London 
Documents, — the latter coming down to the year 1782. 

"Should it be supposed that no practical utility will be derived to the State from the 
possession of these documents, it may be stated that important references have already been 
made to them, in the course of legislation, during the present session of the Legislature. The 
following extract from the report of a committee of the Assembly, in relation to lands granted 
by the State for military services, shows their value in this respect : 

" 'The committee, also, in the spirit of the rule of rendering justice to whom justice is due, 
feel constrained to acknowledge the important aid they have received, in this investigation 
and search for the musty records of olden time, from the report and documents of J. Romeyn 
Brodhead, Agent to procure and transcribe documents in Europe relative to the Colonial 
history of this State. Important papers and references, relating even to this claim, have been 
brought to light by his researches, and exhibit the importance of the objects and execution of 
his trust.' — Report of Mr. Boughton, S[c., April 21, 1845. 



GENERAL INTRODUCTION. xli 

" The committee cannot better close this account of the fruits of this interesting mission than 
by quoting a few passages from a private letter addressed to the Agent by the Hon. George 
Bancroft, the American historian. After having consulted the collection, with reference to 
the period embraced in the forthcoming volumes of his History of the United States, Mr. 
Bancroft remarks as follows : 

" ' Your papers I examined very carefully, from 1748 to the close of the series, and was 
deeply impressed with a sense of their importance. There is nothing in print like the minute 
and exact reports made by the French officers in Canada of their operations on our frontier 
during their long struggle for the preservation of Canada. Your papers surround Montcalm 
with all the interest of a hero of romance, and trace his overthrow, clearly, to distinct and 
inexorable causes. 

" ' For the following period, your collections were also most interesting, and were absolutely 
necessary to the complete understanding of the politics of New-York during the years before 
the Revolution. The less numerous papers in the years of the Revolution contain some of 
the most curious and surprising character.' 

" In regard to the expenses of the mission, it appears, from the account rendered by the 
Comptroller, that there has been paid to the Agent, from the State treasury, the sum of 
$12,000, being the amount appropriated by the Legislature to defray the expenses of the 
Agency, at three several periods ; to wit : On the 2d of May, 1839, $4000 ; on the 11th of 
April, 1842, $3000 ; and on the 13th of April, 1843, $5000. By the Comptroller's books, it 
appears that Mr. Brodhead has furnished accounts and vouchers for $12,014.23, including his 
compensation to July 7th, 1844, leaving a balance in his favor, to that date, of $14.23. 

" It appears, from an abstract of the Agent's accounts, that the Holland documents, exclusive 

of binding, cost $703 13 

The Paris documents, 904 8Q 

The London do., 4,078 01 

$5,685 94 
Salary of the Agent, two years eleven months and ten days, at $2000 per annum, $5,888 87 
Traveling expenses, 439 42 

$12,014 23 



" It also appears, from the account, that there remains due to the Agent the sum of $1390.98, 
including salary, expenses of binding the documents, &c, from the 14th of August, 1844, to 
the 12th of February last. The committee have examined this account, with the vouchers, 
and recommend that it be paid ; and ask leave to introduce the accompanying bill." 

The bill reported by the select committee having been passed into a law on the 13th 
of May, 1845, the Agent's accounts were duly settled, and his duty was completed. 

The documents thus collected by Mr. Brodhead remained for several years in the 
condition in which they had been deposited in the Secretary's office, affording light and 
aid to historical inquirers, not only of this but of other States. The " Paris Documents" 



x lii GENERAL INTRODUCTION. 

were found to be of special interest to the literary investigators of Canada and the 
northwestern States, while many of the papers procured in England contained new and 
important facts illustrating the general history of the Union. The " Holland 
Documents" related more particularly to the local annals of New -York, while it was 
the Dutch Province of New Netherland. Nevertheless, there were many papers found 
in that series which had an important bearing upon points of great interest to the 
neighboring Colonies, and which explained some uncertain passages, especially in the 
history of New England, Pennsylvania, Delaware and Maryland. The documents 
procured in Holland and France, however, were in the Dutch and French languages — 
the law of 1839 having required the Agent to obtain " if possible the originals, and if 
not copies," of papers — and proper translations were necessary in order to render them 
generally useful. 

In the meantime the new State Hall at Albany had been completed, and the records 
of the Secretary of State, together with those of the other State officers, had been 
removed thither. A better opportunity was thus afforded to ascertain the character 
and extent of the historical archives which had remained so long in great disorder, and 
almost inaccessible. Measures were afterwards taken by Mr. Secretary Morgan to have 
these old papers properly arranged and bound ; and more than two hundred large folio 
volumes of original documents were accordingly prepared and placed in a condition for 
easy reference. For the first time, the State archives were thus reduced to comparative 
order, and a necessary work was accomplished, the want of which had caused many of 
the embarrassments already referred to. A general catalogue or calendar of all the 
records in the Secretary's office, which shall indicate the date, character and contents of 
each document, is still greatly needed ; and it is hoped that it will soon be prepared 
and printed. 

The attention of the Legislature having been again directed to the subject, an ap- 
propriation was made, in the session of 1848, for collecting and translating some of the 
documents belonging to the State, connected with its history. In pursuance of this 
action, certain papers were compiled, under the direction of Mr. Secretary Morgan, 
by Dr. E. B. O'Callaghan, which, on the 5th of January, 1849, the Legislature ordered 
to be printed. In the following April, the Legislature directed the Secretary of State 
to cause to be printed a second volume of what was styled the " Documentary History" 
of New -York. Of this work, four volumes, in all, have been published. They contain 
a miscellaneous compilation, among which are some of the manuscripts procured by the 
Historical Agent in Europe. 



GENERAL INTRODUCTION. x ]iJi 

It was thought by many, however, that such of the documents of the Agency as 
were in foreign languages should be translated, and that either the whole collection, or 
a selection of the most important papers in it, should be published, as a distinct work, by 
the authority of the State. This proposition was favorably received, and a bill was 
introduced into the Legislature, which was passed into a law on the 30th of March, 
1849, as follows: 



"AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE PUBLICATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE 

COLONIAL HISTORY OF THIS STATE. 

" Passed March 30, 1849, ' three-fifths being present.' 

" The People of the State of Nero -York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows: 

" Section 1. The manuscript documents relating to the Colonial history of this State, now 
in the office of the Secretary of State, which were procured under and by virtue of an act of 
the Legislature, passed May 2, 1839, entitled « An act to appoint an Agent to procure and 
transcribe documents in Europe relative to the Colonial history of this State,' or such portions 
thereof as the State officers hereinafter named shall deem advisable, shall be translated and 
printed for the use of the State. 

" § 2. The Governor, Secretary of State and Comptroller shall cause said documents to be 
prepared, printed, and bound in volumes of such size as they may determine upon, and 
for such purpose are hereby authorized to employ some suitable person to translate such parts 
thereof as are necessary, at a reasonable compensation to be fixed and certified by them. 

" § 3. The said State officers shall issue proposals for the printing and binding of such 
number of copies of said documents as they shall deem advisable to cause to be printed, not 
exceeding five thousand, in the same manner as proposals are required to be issued for the 
printing and binding of legislative documents, and shall make a contract for such printing 
and binding with such person or persons as shall have submitted proposals therefor, which, all 
things considered, they may deem most advantageous to the interests of the State, provided 
any of said proposals shall be by them considered reasonable. 

" $ 4. The said State officers are hereby authorized to cause such portions of said documents 
to be stereotyped as they may deem the interests of the State to demand, and to secure or 
sell the copyright thereof, as in their judgment shall be for the interest of the State. 

" <^ 5. One thousand copies of said documents, when printed and bound, shall be deposited 
with the Secretary of State, and one copy thereof delivered by him to each member of the present 
Legislature, the President of the Senate, clerks and elective officers of the present Senate and 
Assembly, and twenty-three copies thereof (being one to each) to the several State officers 
who are entitled to bound copies of legislative documents; and the residue of said one 
thousand copies shall be by said Secretary of State retained, until disposed of as the Governor, 
Secretary of State and Comptroller may direct for the purpose and in the way of literary 
exchanges; and the remaining copies which shall be printed under the provisions of this act 
shall be sold under the directions of said State officers for such price as shall be determined 
by them, not less than twenty-five per cent over the actual cost of preparing, printing and 
binding the same, and the proceeds thereof paid into the State treasury. 

" § 6. This act shall take effect immediately." 



x \[ v GENERAL INTRODUCTION. 

It became a question whether, under the discretion vested by this law in the State 
officers therein named, the whole of the documents or a selection of them only should 
be published. Mr. Brodhead, who was then Secretary of the American Legation at 
London, and about to return home, offered to superintend the publication of such a 
selection, if it should be determined upon, without any charge to the State for his 
services. It was, however, on full consideration of the subject, deemed best to print 
the whole of the documents, and, under the authority vested in the State officers by the 
second section of the law, they employed E. B. O'Callagiian, M. D., to make the 
necessary translations and to superintend the publication generally. In a communication 
to the Assembly, dated the 29th January, 1851 (Assembly Documents, No. 66), 
also in a report from the Comptroller to the Senate, made on 1st February, 1853 
(Senate Documents, No. 24), and in the annual reports of the Comptroller to the 
Legislature, will be found detailed statements of the progress of the work. The 
arrangement adopted was, that the publication should consist of ten quarto volumes. 
Of these, the first and second were to contain translations of the " Holland Documents ;" 
the third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth, the " London Documents ;" and the 
ninth and tenth, translations of the " Paris Documents." The publication of the work was 
commenced in 1853 by the issue of the third volume, or the first of the English series — 
the translation of the papers to form the first and second volumes not having been then 
completed. The fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and ninth volumes were afterwards 
successively issued, all of them accompanied by foot notes by the translator. 

It will be observed that no editor's name is attached to the third volume of the work — 
the first which appeared as above stated — the note on the back of the title page having 
been thought to afford sufficient information as to the manner of its publication ; but in 
the subsequent volumes the name of the translator was, by the permission of the State 
officers, affixed as editor. 

At its session of 1856, the Legislature passed the following act : 

"AN ACT IN RELATION TO THE COLONIAL HISTORY OF THE STATE AND THE PUBLICATION 

AND DISTRIBUTION THEREOF. 

"Passed April 12, 1856, 'three-fifths being present.' 

" The People of the Stale of New-York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows : 

"Section 1. The publication of the documents relating to the Colonial history of the State, 
pursuant to chapter one hundred and seventy-five of the Laws of eighteen hundred and forty- 
nine, shall be completed under the direction of the Regents of the University, who shall 
hereafter have the charge of the same, and of all things relating thereto, in place of and with 
the same powers as the officers named in said act. 



GENERAL INTRODUCTION. xlv 

" § 2. If the said Regents shall ascertain that, by the contracts already made in regard to the 
said work, the State has agreed to print the whole of said documents, and they shall be of 
opinion that portions only of those not yet printed should be published, they, the said Regents, 
may, in that event, arrange with the contractors for the publication, in the place of the 
documents thus withdrawn, of others in relation to the early history of the State, to an 
equivalent extent, so as not to increase the amount of the contract. The Secretary of State 
is hereby authorized to permit all proper investigations in his office, and the use of any 
documents or books therein, for this purpose. 

" § 3. Five copies of the said published documents shall be delivered to each member of the 
present Legislature, and five copies thereof shall be given to each of the clerks, officers and 
reporters of the present Senate and Assembly, and to the several public officers who are entitled 
to bound copies of legislative documents. Three hundred copies thereof shall be placed with 
the Regents of the University, and two hundred and fifty copies thereof with the Secretary of 
State for literary exchanges and distribution, as they may deem proper. The remaining copies 
shall be offered for sale, under the direction of the Regents, on such public notice, and on such 
terms and price, not less than two dollars and fifty cents per volume, as they may deem proper; 
and such copies as remain unsold, at the end of six months, shall be placed in the custody of 
the Regents of the University, subject to future distribution by the Legislature; the proceeds 
of any such sales made by the said Regents, after deducting their necessary expenses under 
this act, shall be paid into the State treasury. Persons who may have already subscribed 
for or purchased said documents, or such of them as may have been published, shall be 
credited with the amount they may have paid, and be allowed to complete their sets at the 
price fixed by the Regents as aforesaid. 

"§ 4. This act shall take effect immediately." 

On inquiry into the progress made in the translations and the condition of the work 
generally, it was found to be so nearly completed that it was deemed inexpedient by 
the Regents to attempt any exercise of the discretion vested in them under the second 
section of the act of the Legislature. All that remained for them to do was to 
superintend the residue of the publication, according to the arrangement determined 
upon and the contracts made by their predecessors. 



TRANSCRIPTS OF DOCUMENTS 



ROYAL ARCHIVES AT THE HAGUE AND IN THE STAD-HUYS OF THE CITY OF AMSTERDAM. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS : I - YIII. 



1603-1656. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS. 



The documents contained in the first and second volumes of this work are translations of accurate 
transcripts of originals found in the Royal Archives at the Hague, and in the Archives of the city of 
Amsterdam, during the year 1841. 

It will be observed that there are several different references at the head of the papers. These relate to 
the particular divisions or repositories in the Archives, in which the originals were found ; and it has been 
thought advisable to retain them in every case, not so much on account of any particular use they can now 
be to the investigator, but rather because they afford a curious and valuable proof of the authenticity of 
each document. 

ROYAL ARCHIVES AT THE HAGUE. 

In arranging the papers — which it will be noticed were separately transcribed — a strictly chronological 
order was observed, being the one that seemed to be most judicious. 

Each paper has,"generally, two memoranda upon it — the day of its actual date, and the day when it was 
presented to the States-General. 

The Resolutions have, of course, only one date ; but most of the papers and memorials presented to the 
States being the subjects of Resolutions of that body, there is a' memorandum of the day of reception marked 
on each, which corresponds with the date of the Resolution ; and in this manner each paper has been arranged 
— not according to the actual date — but according to the order of time in which it was acted on by the 
States, and being always found near the Resolution to which it gave rise. 

As there are various references in these papers, it is thought that the subjoined statement of the different 
repositories from which they were taken may not be altogether useless. 

1. Registers or Xotulen of the States-General. These books may be considered the most important in 
the Archives. They contain the official records of the proceedings of the States-General respecting every 
matter that came before them. They were kept by the greffiers or clerks of the States, and commence with 
the year 1576. 

2. West India Registers. By a resolution of the States-General of 16 April, 163S, all their proceedings in 
respect to the affairs of the West India Company are to be kept in separate Registers. These commence with 
1638, and extend to 1670, when they were discontinued. 

3. Secrete Resolutien. These Registers contain the proceedings of the States General in regard to subjects 
■which it was deemed proper to record in separate volumes, such as treaties, declarations of war, Ac, &c. 
The volume 1609-1615 is missing. 

4. Instructie Boeken. These contain the Instructions issued from time to time to officers and agents 
of Government. 

5. Commissie Boeken. These contain the Commissions issued to officers. 

6. Acte Boeken. Containing the originals of all Laws, Placaats, &c, of the States-General. 

G 



1 HOLLAND DOCUMENTS. 

7. Registers of Uytgaande Brieven. These contain copies of letters from the States to their officers and 
diplomatic agents, as well as to Foreign powers. They commence with the year 1646, previous to which the 
drafts of letters were preserved on the Liasses — of which presently. 

8. Registers of Ingekomen Brieven General. These contain copies of General letters received, commencing 
with 1650. The originals are preserved on the Liasses ; and it often happens that the Bylagen or appendi- 
ces to the letters are not copied in these Registers. 

9. Registers of Ingekomen Brieven uyt Engeland. These books contain copies of letters from the Legation 
in England, the originals of which are on the Liasses. 

10. Registers of Ingekomen Brieven uyt Spanje, containing copies of letters from the Ambassadors in Spain, 
the originals of which are on the Liasses. 

11. Liasses. Loopende. These are files, on which the originals of all general letters and memorials received 
by the States-General are preserved. Each paper is marked with the day of its date, and of its reception by 
the States. They are arranged and referred to, according to the latter date. These Liasses also contain drafts 
of general letters sent by the States. 

12. Liasses Admiraletiet, containing papers relating to maritime affairs, and communications from the 
Board of Admiralty. 

13. Liasses West Indien. These contain papers relating to the concerns of the West India Company. 
They commence with the year 1623 and are arranged in a manner similar to the foregoing. 

14. Loket Kas. A large case with pigeon holes and drawers properly labeled, containing bundles of papers 
relating to various subjects, which were probably deposited here, on account of their being too bulky to be 
conveniently placed on the Liasses. 

15. Secrete Kas. A case similar to the foregoing, containing papers relating to matters recorded in the 
Registers of Secrete Resolulien. 

16. Notulen van de Raad van Staat. These books contain the proceedings of the Council of State. 

17. Notulen van Holland ende West Fricsland. This is a large series of printed volumes of Proceedings 
of these two Provinces. It was usual for the States-General to ask the opinion of the Provincial States on all 
questions of great public moment. 

ARCHIVES OF THE CITY OF AMSTERDAM. 

1. Resolutien van de Vroedschappen. These books contain the minutes of the Acts, Proceedings and 
Resolutions of the City Council of Amsterdam. 

2. Muniment Register van den Raad. In this series of books are registered, at length, Reports of Commit- 
tees, and important papers relating to the affairs of the city. One of the volumes — " Muniment Register B " — 
is not now in the Archives, and is supposed to have been lost about thirty years ago. 

3. Groot Memorial. These volumes contain records of Public acts of the City Council, Instructions to 
Officers, Contracts, &c. 

4. Gemien Missiven. Containing Records of letters sent under the direction of the Council. 

5. A bundle of papers, entitled Rekeningen rakende Nieuw Nederland, containing accounts, &c, relating to 
the Colony of the City on the South river. 

6. A large bundle of papers, entitled, Verscheide stukken rakende de Colonie van Nieuw Nederland. These 
papers, relating to the general concerns of the City Colony, including letters and reports received from thence, 
<fcc, <fec, have all been arranged in chronological order, as nearly as their dates could be ascertained. 



CONTENTS. 



1603. 
August 1. 
December 8. 
December 24. 

1606. 
November 15. 

1608. 
April 24. 

1011. 
January 20. 



January 25. 
February 9. 
February 21. 

September 7. 

1614. 

Marcb 20. 

March 27. 

March 27. 

July 18. 

June 21. 

August 25. 
September 2. 
September 27. 

August 19. 

September 30. 

October 1 1. 



October 11. 



Paok. 

Resolution of the States-General appointing Captain Dale to a company of foot, 1 

Resolution of the States-General that Captain Thomas Dale's commission be expedited, 1 

Resolution of the States-General on the subject of Captain Thomas Dale's pay, <fcc, 2 

Memorandum that Thomas Dale and Sir Thomas Gates were in garrison service at Oudewater 2 

Resolution of the States-Genernl to allow Captain Sir Thomas Gates to be absent from his company, &c, 

in order to go to Virginia, 2 

Resolution of the States-General upon the recommendation of the Prince of Wales, to allow Captain 
Thomas Dale to absent himself from his company for three years in order to go to Virginia in the 

English service, 2 

Further resolution of the States-General on the subject of Captain Dale's going to Virginia 3 

Further resolution of the States-General on the same subject, 3 

Resolution of the States-General on the subject of furnishing passports, &c, to certain ships about to 

set out on voyage of discovery of a passage to China, <fec, &c, 3 

Resolution of the States of Holland, dec, upon the memorial of certain merchants about a newly dis- 
covered navigation, 4 

Resolution of the States of Holland, upon the memorial of certain merchants, that the States-General 

be recommended to pass a general ordinance in favor of all those who discover new lands, ifec, ... 4 

Resolution of the States-General, upon the memorial of certain merchants, etc., to grant the act or 

concession derived in favor of all those who discover any new lands, passages, Ac, &c, 5 

General Octroy, or Charter, for all those who may discover any new passages, havens, lands or places, 

<fec, (be, 5 

Resolution of the States of Holland, upon the memorial presented on behalf of certain merchants, con- 
cerning the erection of a general trading company for Africa and America, 6 

Resolution of the States-General upon the same subject, 7 

Resolution of the States-General on the subject of the erection of a West India Company, 7 

Further resolution of the States-General upon the same subject, 7 

Resolution of the States of Holland on the subject of a general West India Company, with a draft of 

an act proposed to be passed by the States General 8 

Letter of King James I. to the States-General about Sir Thomas Dale, "Marechal de Virginie," Ac, 

dated Newmarket 9 

Resolution of the States-General upon the foregoing letter, to allow Sir Thomas Dale to continue his 

residence in Virginia until their High Mightinesses shall otherwise direct 9 

Resolution of the States-General (upon the report by the Deputies of the United Company of Mer- 
chants who have discovered New Netherland, of the particulars of their discovery), to allow the 
said Company the exclusive right to make four voyages to New Netherland, ifcc, within the time of 
three years from 1st January, 1615 10 

Original draft of the special grant to Gerritt Jaeobsen Witssen and others, united in one company, of 
an exclusive right of trading, &c, to New Netherland, for four voyages, within the period of three 
years, commencing 1st January, 1615, or sooner (with map) 11 



lii 



CONTENTS. 



1614. 
October 11. 

1616. 
August 1 8. 



August 18. 



August 19. 

August 19. 
September 12. 
November 3. 

1617. 
January 18. 



July 



29. 



August 2. 

1618. 

January 26. 

161*7. 

December 2. 

1618. 

January 26. 

January 26. 

January 29. 

February 3. 

February 6. 

February 9. 

August 10. 

October 4. 



October 9. 



1620. 
February 12. 



February 12. 



Page. 

Official copy of the above special grant to Gerrit Jacobsen Witssen and others, of an exclusive right to 

trade, Ac, to New Netherland, from the "Acte Boek " of the States-General 12 

Minute of the appearance, before the States-General, of Captain Cornelia Hendricksen, Ac, in behalf of 
Gerrit Jacobsen Witssen and others, Directors of New Netherland, and of his submitting his second 
report of certain discoveries he had made in New Netherland, in a small yacht of eight lasts burthen, 
called the Onrust, which the Directors had caused to be built there, Ac, Ac. ; upon which the States- 
General resolve that, before coming to any decision on the special grant asked for, the report be 

committed to writing, Ac, 12 

Memorial of Gerrit Jacobsen Witssen and others, Directors of New Netherland, to the States-General, 
in relation to the discovery, under their direction, by Captain Cornelis Hendricksen, of Munnichen- 
dam, of certain lands, ha}', and three rivers, in the latitude of from 38° to 40°; with an explana- 
tory map, and also a copy of the general charter or ordinance of 27th March, 1614, annexed, .... 13 
Report of Captain Cornelis Hendricksen, of Munnichendam, of his discoveries in New Netherland, 

presented to the States-General 13 

Resolution of the States-General thereupon, 14 

Resolution of the States-General upon the foregoing memorial, Ac, postponing a decision 14 

Resolution of the States-General upon the same, again postponing a decision 15 

Minute of the presentation to the States-General of a memorial of Lambrecht van Tweenhuysen and 
others, praying the government for a ship of war, to encourage the fishery, Ac, at Terra Nova, Ac, 
a decision upon which is postponed, 16 

Resolution of the States of Holland upon the petition of the Directors of the Australian Company, pro- 
hibiting William Janssen from printing or publishing the journals or maps of voyages made in behalf 
of the said Company, Ac 15 

Resolution of the States of Holland forbidding William Janssen to make any corrections upon the globe, 

or to publish any map containing the newly discovered passage from the North to the South Sea, Ac, 16 

Address of Sir Dudley Carleton, English Ambassador to the States-General, on the subject of Sir Thomas 

Dale's petition to their High Mightinesses 16 

Letter of Noel de Caron, the Dutch Ambassador at London, to the States-General on the same subject, 17 

Petition of Sir Thomas Dale to the States-General, setting forth his services in Holland, Virginia, Ac, 

with two endorsements of the action of the States-General thereupon, 17 

Resolution of the States-General, referring Captain Dale's petition to the Council of State, Ac 19 

Report and advice of the Council of State to the States-General, upon the foregoing reference 19 

Minute of the States-General, postponing a final resolution upon the report of the Council of State 

upon Captain Dale's petition, 20 

Resolution of the States-General upon Captain Dale's petition, 20 

Resolution of the States-General, that their determination upon Captain Dale's petition be put into 

the hands of the Council of State, in order to be carried into effect 20 

Resolution of the States of Holland, upon the complaint of William Janssen of the interdict against 

his publishing maps, Ac , allowing him permission to publish, 21 

Resolution of the States-General, upon the petition of the Company trading to the Island of New 
Netherland, praying for a continuation of their special grant, to examine the same before coming 

to a decision , , . 21 

Resolution of the States-General, upon the petition of Henrick Eelkens, and others, participants in the 
New Netherland Company, Ac, that the petitioners be allowed to send their ship to New 
Netherland 21 

Resolution of the States-General, upon the petition of the Directors of the Company trading to New 
Netherland, praying for two shirs of war, in order to colonize that country under the protection and 
authority of their High Mightinesses, that before coming to any conclusion thereupon, the opinion 
of the Admiralty be taken, 22 

Memorial of the Directors of the New Netherland Company to the Prince of Orange .... 22 



CONTENTS. liii 

1620. Page. 

February 26. Resolution of the States-General, upon the report of the Admiralty, that before corning to any decision 

upon the subject of the foregoing petition, the opinion of the Prince of Orange, be taken, 23 

March 10. Resolution of the State9-General, upon the same subject 24 

April 10. Further resolution of the States-General, thereupon t 24 

April 11, Resolution of the States-General upon the foregoing petition, absolutely refusing its prayer, ....... 24 

August 23. Minute of the States-General, stating the presentation of the petition of the joint owners of the ship 
Blyde Bootschap, Capt. Cornells Jacobsen May, "who had discovered certain new populous and 
fruitful lands, and asking for a special grant, <fec. ; also, of another petition of lleurick Eelkens, and 
others, praying their High Mightinesses to refuse a grant to any persons but the petitioners — and that 
thereupon both parties being called in, the States resolve that both the parties shall meet together, 

and try to arrange matters amicably 24 

November 6. Resolution of the States-General to refuse the new grant petitioned for, as above 25 

1621. 

September 13. Resolution of the States of Holland, respecting certain traders to Guinea and Virginia, 25 

September 14- Resolution of the States-General, referring to the Admiralty of Zealand the petition of Henrick Allarts, 

and others, for permission to send a ship to New Virginia, 26 

September 15. Resolution of the States-General, allowing Henrick Eelkens, and others, to send their ship, the WUle 

Dicive, to Virginia, ifcc, 26 

September 24 Resolution of the States-General allowing Dierck Volkertse, and others, to send a ship to Virginia,. . . 26 
September 28. Resolution of the States-General, allowing Claes Jacobsen Haringcarspel, and others, to send two ships 

to New Netherland and the adjoining lands, <tc 27 

1622. 
March 16. Resolution of the States-General, upon the request of Sir Dudley Carleton, the English Ambassador, 
that some order be taken upon the memorial he had presented to the States-General about Virginia, 
that Burgomaster Pauw be requested to write to the participants in th« trade to New Netherland, 
that they inform the States-General of the situation of the matter referred to by the Ambassador, . . 27 

April 21. Resolution of the States of Holland about the transportation of families, <fcc, to the West Indies, 28 

April 27. Resolution of the States-General, upon the further request of Sir Dudley Carleton, to come to some de- 

cision upon his Proposition about Virginia — to look for the same, and also for what has been 

printed in Amsterdam on this subject, 28 

June 18. Resolution of the States-General upon the petition of Claes Jacobsen Haringcarspel, and others, for an 

extension of time, <fec, to postpone a decision, 28 

November 29. Resolution of the States-General, that the documents in their office relating to the West India Com- 
pany, be delivered to the Directors thereof, upon their receipt, itc, 29 

1624. 
March 22. Secret resolution of the States-General concerning a proposed union of the West India Companies,. . . 29 
March 30. Letter of the Committee of the XIX. of the West India Company at Amsterdam, to the States-General, 

about the arrest, at Hooru, of a French ship for Virginia, 30 

March 29. Letter of the Committee of the West India Company at Hoorn, concerning the ship for Virginia arrested 

there, 31 

April 6. Letter of the States-General to the Chamber of XIX. of the West India Company, about the above 

matter, 32 

April 9. Secret resolution of the States-General upon the proposed union of the West India Companies, <fcc., &c, 32 
May 17. Secret resolution of the States-General upou the same matter, with a draft of a letter to the Ambassa- 
dors in France, &c, 33 

June 4. Extract of the journal of Messrs. Van Aerssen and Joachimi, the Ambassadors to England, <tc, 33 

October 14. Minute of the report made to the States-General by the Directors of the West India Company, 34 

1625. 
May 6. Resolution of the States-General admitting Mr. Sehagen to a seat as a Deputy from Holland, Ac., 35 

1626. 

September 4. A statement of the property and effects of the West India Company, in the year 1626 35 

October 10. Resolution of the States General, appointing Messrs. Van Eck and Sehagen their Deputies to the meet- 
ing of the West India Company, 37 

November 5. Letter of Mr. P. Sehagen to the States-General, stating the purchase of Manhattan Island from the 

Indians, for 60 guilders, <fee., ifce., 37 

November 7. Minute of the receipt of the above letter, 38 



liv 



CONTENTS. 



1627. 
November 

1629. 
October 
November 

1630. 
July 

August 
1632. 
March 



Pa.; 



April 

April 
April 

April 

May 

May 

May 
May 
March 



April 



May. 



May 



1633. 
March 

June 

June 

1634. 

March 
May 

May 

May 
May 

June 
June 
June 
May 



16. Extract of n letter from the XIX. of the West India Company to the States-General, with news from 
New Netlierland, 

23. Letter of the West India Company to the States-General, remonstrating against a peace with Spain,. . . 

16. Reasons and considerations offered by the West India Company to the States-General, concerning the 

proposed peace with Spain, Ac. , 

15. Patent to Samuel Godyn and Samuel Blommaert, for lands at South Hoeck on the South river, signed 

by Peter Minuit and his Council, 

13. Patent to Kiliaen van Rensselaer for certain lands, Ac, signed by Peter Minuit and his Council, 



19. Extract from the Pointen van Beschryving ( or points upon which the Deputies of -the States-General 
to the XIX. are to obtain information ), for the meeting of the West India Company on 20th March, 
5. Letter of G. van Arnhem (one of the Deputies of the States-General to the XIX. ), to the States- 
General, upon the information of the West India Company, that one of their ships, the Eendragt, 
coming from New Netlierland, had been arrested by the English Government at Plymouth, Ac., Ac, 
7. Resolution of the States-General to write to their Ambassador at London, thereupon, 

7. Letter of the States-General to Messrs. Joachimi and Brasser, their Ambassador and Deputy at London, 

about the arrest of the Eendragt 

10. Letter of Messrs. Joachimi and Brasser, to the States General, with an account of their interview with 

the King, about the Eendragt, Ac, 

5. Letter of the West India Company, to the States-General, about the affair of the Eendragt, with a 
deduction of their title to New Netherland, Ac, Ac, 

5. Resolution of the States-General to write to their Ambassador, (to., at London, and to send a copy of 

the above letter, Ac. , to them, 

6. Letter of the States-General to their Ambassador, Ac, at London, thereupon, 

23. Letter of Messrs. Joachimi and Brasser, Ambassador, Ac, at London, to the States- General, 

27. Memorial of the Ambassadors of the States-General to King CharleB I., among other matters, respecting 

8. the arrest of the Eendragt, and stating the purchase of the Island of Manhattan from the Indians, by 
the Dutch, Ac., 

Answer of the English Government to the remonstrances presented to the King by the Ambassador and 
Deputy of the States-General, in April, 1632 (in which, among other things, the Dutch claim to New 

Netherland is denied, Ac ), 

27. Letter of Messrs. Joachimi and Brasser, to the States-General, communicating, among other things, that 
the Lord High Treasurer had agreed to release the Eendragt, witli a proviso, saving any prejudice 
to His Majesty's rights, Ac, 

23. Extract from the Pointen van Beschryving, for the meeting of the West India Company on the first 
of April, 1633 

10. Resolution of the States of Holland, upon the subject of the trade of the East and West India Compa- 
nies, Ac, Ac, 

10. Remonstrance of the West India Company to the States of Holland, against a peace with Spain, con- 
taining a general account of the commercial concerns of the Company, 

18. Extract from the Pointen van Beschryving, for the meeting of the West India Company this day, 

13. Resolution of the States-General, appointing a committee to hear and examine the matters in difference 
between the West India Company and the Patroons, Ac, of the colonies in New Netherland 

13. Letter of the States-General to the Amsterdam Chamber of the West India Company on the foregoing 
subject 

13. Letter of the States-General to the Patroons of New Netherland, on the foregoing matter. 

22. Resolution of the States-General, referring a letter from the West India Company, asking for a delay, 
Ac, to the committee appointed on the subject of the differences, Ac. 

10. Further resolution of the States-General upon the foregoing matter 

10. Letter of the States-General to the Patroons of New Netherland thereupon, 

10. Letter of the States-General to the Amsterdam Chamber of the West India Company thereupon 

27. Letter of Mr. Joachimi, tbe Dutch Ambassador at London, to the States-General, respecting a complaint 
of some English merchants against the officers of the Dutch West India Company, in New Nether- 
land, for interrupting their trade there, and causing them damage, Ac 



38 
39 

40 



43 
44 



45 

45 
46 

46 

47 

60 

52 
53 
63 

65 

57 

60 

61 

61 

62 

68 

69 

69 
70 

70 
70 
71 
71 

71 



CONTENTS. 



lv 



1633. 




Nov. 


1-7. 


1634. 




June 


13. 


June 


15. 


June 


20. 


June 


21. 


June 




June 


22. 


June 


22. 



June 



24. 



July 18. 

October 24. 

October 24. 

October 25. 



October 25. 



1636. 

May 24. 

August 30. 

August 30. 

October 6. 

October 6. 

October 20. 

November 25. 

1637. 

April 3. 

April 30. 

April 30. 
September 2. 

1638. 

January 19. 



Page. 
Various depositions of the sailors, &c, belonging to the English ship 6ent to the Hudson river, giving 

details of the conduct of the officers of the West India Company in New Netherland, 72 

Resolution of the States-General, referring the letter of the Ambassador Joachimi, -with the preceding 

depositions to a committee, 82 

Resolution of the States-General, substituting other persons on the committee on the differences between 

the West India Company and the Patroons, <tc 82 

Resolution of the States-General, upon the report of the committee on the subject of the letter of the 
Ambassador at London, that extracts of the pnpers be furnished to the West India Company, 
to inform their High Mightinesses of the right of the matter, <fec 82 

Resolutions of the States-General, making a further change in the committee on the differences between 

the West India Company and the Patroons, i&e 83 

Letter of Messrs. Pauw, S. Blommaert, Kiliaen van Rensselaer and Heurick Hamel, Patroons of New 
Netherland, to the States-General, setting forth their causes of complaint against the West India 
Company, together with their pretension and claim against the Company, 83 

Answer of the West India Company to the pretension and claim of the Patroons of New Netherland,. 89 

Replication of Messrs. Pauw, &c, Patroons of New Netherland, to the answer of the West India 

Company 89 

Resolution of the States-General, postponing a decision on the differences between the West India 
Company and the Patroons, ifcc, for twelve days, in order to enable the parties to come to an 
amicable settlement, <tc 91 

Extracts from the Pointen van Beschryving, for the meeting of the West India Company on 31st July, . . 91 

Memorial of the XIX. of the West India Company to the States-General, in relation to a subsidy, and 

to the question of the difficulties with the English in New Netherland 91 

Resolution of the States-General thereupon, referring the same for consideration 93 

Memorial of the XIX. of the West India Company to the States-General, upon the subject of the diffi- 
culties with the English in New Netherland, and containing a deduction of their rights and title 
thereto, from first discovery, purchase, Ac., 93 

Resolution of the States-General upon the report of the committee appointed to consider the difficulties 

that have arisen between the English and the West India Company in New Netherland 95 

Draft of a new project of Freedoms, Privileges and Exemptions, to be granted by the States-General to 
all such Dutch subjects as may be thought qualified to become Patroons, <fec, in New Netherland, 
under the West India Company, &c, 96 

Extract from the Pointen van Beschryving, for the meeting of the West India Company on June 1, 

1636 100 

Resolution of the States-General, referring the memorial of Lubbertus van Dinclageu, Fiscael and Schout 

in New Netherland, to the Amsterdam Chamber of the West India Company, <ke 100 

Letter of the States-General to the Directors of the Amsterdam Chamber thereupon, 101 

Resolution of the States-General, referring the further memorial of Lubbertus van Dinelagen to the 

Amsterdam Chamber of the West India Company, and that they make answer in fourteen days, 101 

Letter of the States-General to the Directors of the Amsterdam Chamber thereupon 101 

Resolution of the States-General to place the answer received from the West India Company in the 

hands of Mr. van Dinelagen 102 

Extract from the Pointen van Beschryving, for the meeting of the West India Company on 8th 

December, 102 

Letter of Mr. van Beveren, Ambassador at Loudon, to the States-General concerning the French fisheries 

at Terra Nova, <fce. 103 

Resolution of the Slates-General upon the further memorial of Lubbert van Dinelagen to write seriously 

to the XIX. of the West India Company, &c, &c 1 03 

Letter of the States-General to the XIX. of the West India Company about Dinclagen's affairs, <te.,. . . 103 

Resolution of the States-General approving of the appointment of William Kiel't as Director in New 

Netherland, in place of Wouter van Tvvyler 104 

Extract from the Pointen van Beschryving, for the meeting of the West India Company on 25th 

January, 1638 1°5 



lvi 



CONTENTS. 



1638. 




April 


16. 


April 


17. 


April 


26. 


April 


30. 


June 


14. 


June 


21. 


August 


30. 


August 


30. 


September 2. 


September 9. 


1639. 




January 


28. 


January 


17. 



May 18. 

1640. 

March 13. 

May 31. 



July 



July 



19. 



19. 



1641. 

February 5. 

February 5. 

1642. 

March 12. 

May 21. 



July 



81 



July 

August 9. 

August 9, 

August 8 

August 23. 
September 17, 

October 17, 

October 25, 



Page. 

Resolution of the States-General, that from this Jay forward all the resolutions, letters, Ac, concerning 

the East aDd West India Companies, shall be kept and registered in separate books, Ac, 105 

Resolution of the States-General, referring the memorial of certain participants in the West India Com- 
pany, respecting the planting of colonies in New Netherland, to their Deputies to the meeting of the 
XIX., Ac 105 

Resolution of the States General, instructing their Deputies to the meeting of the XIX to endeavor to 
have proper church discipline introduced into Brazil, and 'also to induce colonization to New 
Netherland ; the States undertaking that they shall not be dispossessed by any foreign power, Ac, Ac, 106 

Report to the States-General in answer to questions proposed by their High Mightinesses concerning the 

state of the Colony of New Netherland in the year 1638 106 

Letter of Mr. Joachimi, the Ambassador at London, to the States-General about the English complaints 

concerning New Netherland, Ac, dated 24th May, 108 

Extract from the Pointen van Be&chryving, for the meeting of the West India Company on 5th July, 

1638 110 

Articles and conditions for the trade to New Netherland, Ac, proposed by Mr. de Laet, 110 

Resolution of the States-General, referring to a committee certain Articles and conditions, under 
which trade to New Netherland may be carried on, proposed by Mr. John de Laet, for the approba- 
tion of their High Mightinesses, 114 

Resolution of the States-General upon the report of the committee charged to examine the foregoing 

conditions, Ac, 115 

Extract from the Pointen van Beschryving, for the meeting of the West India Company on the 27 th 

September, 115 

Resolution of the States-General to pay to Kiliaen van Rensselaer his expenses of coming to the Hague, 116 
Letter of the Enckhuysen Chamber of the West India Company to the States-General, in answer to the 

complaiuts of the Swedish Minister about the arrest of a ship coming from the West Indies, 116 

Resolution of the States-General, referring the further memorial of Lubbert van Dinclagen to their 

Deputies to the meeting of the XIX, 117 

Resolution of the States-General, instructing their Deputies to the XIX. to exert themselves, in order 

that the inhabitants of New Netherland may be put in the best condition, Ac Ill 

Resolution of the States-General, instructing their Deputies to the XIX. to press for free access to New 
Netherland, in behalf of the Count of Solms and others who are prepared to plant colonies 
there, Ac, 118 

Resolution of the States General, on a draft of Freedoms and Exemptions for Patroons, Ac, in New 

Netherland, Ac 118 

Draft of Freedoms and Exemptions for all Patroons, mastei'3 or private persons, who may plant any 

colonies, Ac, in New Netherland, Ac 119 

Resolution of the States-General, giving to Kiliaen van Rensselaer veniam testandi, for his property in 

New Netherland 124 

Grant of the States-General to Kiliaen van Rensselaer of a right to dispose of his property in New 

Netherland by last will and testament 124 

Extract of a report made to the States-General, of the proceedings of the XIX. for the year 1642 125 

Resolution of the States-General, referring the further memorial of Lubbert van Dinclagen to the 

Deputies to the XIX., in order that the arrearages due to him may be settled, Ac 126 

Letter of Mr. Joachimi, the Dutch Ambassador at London, to the States-General, about the complaints 

of the New England people against the Dutch of New Netherland, Ac, 127 

Letter of Lord Say and Seale, concerning the intrusion of the Dutch into New England, Ac 128 

Resolution of the States-General to send a copy of the foregoing letter to the West India Company, 129 

Letter of the States-General to the Directors of the Amsterdam Chamber of the West India Company,. 129 
Letter of Mr. Joachimi, Ambassador at London, to the States-General, about the New England 

complaints, Ac, 129 

Extract from the Pointen, Ac, for the meeting of the West India Company, September 15, 1642 132 

Letter of Mr. Joachimi, Ambassador, Ac, to the States-General, about New England, Ac, 133 

Letter of same to the States-General, about New England, Ac 134 

Resolution of the States-General, upon the receipt of the foregoing letter, to look into the Retroacta, . . 135 



CONTENTS. 



lvii 



1643. 




February 


2. 


June 


19. 


July 


28. 


August 


20. 


November 


7. 


November 24. 


December 


2. 


December 11. 


December 


16. 


November 


3. 


1644. 




April 


5. 


April 


23. 


April 


27. 


October 


1. 


October 


8. 


October 


15. 


October 


20. 


October 


22. 


October 


29. 


December 


28. 


December 15. 


December 


15. 


1645. 




April 


21. 


July 


12. 


July 


12. 


July 


31. 


July 


5. 


July 


7. 


August 


15. 


October 


16. 



Page. 

Extract from the Pointer), &c, for the meeting of tbe West India Company, on February 21, 135 

Extract from the Poinlen, &c, for the meeting of the West India Company, July 11 136 

Resolution of the States-General upon the further memorial of Lubbert van Dinclngen, formerly Fiscael 

in New Netherland, 136 

Letter of the States-General to the meeting of the X[X. of the West India Company, about the cnra- 

plainls of the English concerning New England, &c, 137 

Resolution of the States General, upon the report of the Deputies of their High Mightinesses to the 

meeting of the XIX. of the West India Company, in September, 137 

Resolution of the States-General, making a change in the committee upon Dinclagen's affairs 138 

Extract from the Poinlen, &c, for the meeting of the West India Company, on December 12, 138 

Resolution of the States-General upon the report of the committee charged to examine the matters in 

difference between Lubbert van Dinclagen and the West India Company 138 

Resolution of the States-General, referring the further memorial of Lubbert van Dinclagen to the Depu- 
ties to the next meeting of the XIX., Ac 139 

Memorial of the Eight Men in New Netherland, to the States-General, respecting the troubles there, 

dated at Manhattan 139 

Resolution of the States-General to send a copy of the foregoing memorial to the XIX. of the West 

India Company, that they may take prompt order thereupon 140 

Letter of the West India Company to the States-General, upon the subject of the memorial from New 

Netherland 141 

Resolution of the States-General to send copies of the above letter of the West India Company, Ac, to 

the different Provinces, dee., cfee 142 

Report to the States-General by the Deputies who attended the meeting of the West India Company 

in April 142 

Letter of Mr. Spieringh, the Swedish Minister, to the States-General, complaining of the exaction of 

duties on a ship coming from New Sweden 143 

Resolution of the States-General upon a further memorial of the Swedish Minister 143 

Resolution of the States-General, referring a letter of Cornells Melyn, Patroon of Staten Island, itc, to 

the Deputies to the XIX, with instructions, &c, &c, . . 144 

Resolution of the States-General, recommending their Deputies to the meeting of the XIX. of the West 

India Company to inform themselves about the situation of affairs in New Netherland, &c, 144 

Memorial of Mr. Spieringh, the Swedish Minister, to the States-General, concerning the imposition of 

duties, Ac., on ships coining from New Sweden, <fcc 145 

Extract from the report of their High Mightinesses' Deputies to the meeting of the XIX. of the West 

India Company, in October, 148 

Extract from the minutes of the XIX. of the West India Company, concerning New Netherland 

affairs, the recall of Director Kieft, <tc, &c 148 

Report upon the affairs of New Netherland, presented to the West India Company by the General 

Board of Accounts, 149 

Letter of the States-General to the XIX. of the We6t India Company, about the complaint of the 
Swedish Minister concerning the detention of the ships Calmersleutel and Fama, coming from New 

Sweden, <fcc.,. '. 156 

Report to the States-General, by their Deputies to the XIX., of the principal matters that have 

occurred in that Assembly since March, 1645 157 

Considerations offered by the General Board of Accounts of the West India Company to the XIX., in 

regard to the number of ships, &c, to be employed by the Company, &c. 158 

Memorial of Mr. Speiringh, the Swedish Minister, to the States-General, about the arrest of the ships 

Calmersleutel and Fama 159 

Statement of the cargo, &c, of the ships Calmersleutel and Fama, 159 

Instructions from the XIX. of the West India Company, for the Director and Council of New Netherland, 160 
Extract from the Poinlen, itc., for the meeting of the West India Company on 2d September, 1645, 163 
Extract from the proceedings of the meeting of the XIX. at Middleburg, from the 9th of September to 

the 16th October, 1645 163 



n 



lviii 



CONTENTS, 



1646. 
May 

July 

July 

July 

July 
July 
July 

July 
July 

July 
July 

July 
1647. 

1648. 
January 

January 



1644. 
June 

1643. 
October 



February 
March 27 



1642. 
January 
February 

1647. 
June 
June 

1644. 
Otober 

1647. 
July 

1648. 
January 
January 



Page. 

26. Letter of tlie Amsterdam Chamber of the West Imlia Company to the States-General, about a ship 

confiscated in New Netherland by the Director and Council there 173 

13. Letter of the West India Company to the States-General, asking their High Mightinesses to ratify the 

commission for Mr. Peter Stuyvesant, as Director in New Netherland 175 

13. Resolution of the States-General thereupon, that before taking any action they must be informed what 

disposition the Company has made of the complaints from New Netherland, Ac, Ac, 175 

24. Letter of the West India Company to the States-General, again asking that Mr. Stuy vesant's commission 

may be expedited 175 

24. Resolution of the States-General, further postponing a decision thereupon 176 

26. Letter of the West India Company, again praying that Mr. Stuyvesant's commission be expedited, Ac, 176 
26. Resolution of the States-General, that the West India Company send to their High Mightinesses an 

authentic copy of Mr. Stuyvesant's instructions 177 

28. Resolution of the States-General, ratifying and approving Mr. Stuyvesant's commission, Ac, 177 

28. Minute of the appearance of Peter Stuyvesant, Director of New Netherland, Ac, before the States- 
General, and of his taking the oath, Ac, Ac. 177 

28. Commission of Mr. Peter Stuyvesant as Director-General of New Netherland, Ac, Ac, 178 

28. Minute of the appearance before the States-General of Lubbertus van Diuclagen, Deputy and First 

Councillor to the Director in New Netherland, and of his taking the oath, Ac, 179 

28. Record of the oath of Lubbertus van Dinclagen before their High Mightinesses, Ac 179 

Short account of New, Netherland, from the year 1041 to the year 1646 179 

7. Resolution of the States-General, referring a letter of Peter Stuyvesant to their High Mightinesses, 

dated October 6, 1647, to their Committee on the affairs of the West India Company, Ac, 188 

11. Resolution of the States-General, referring the memorial of Jochem Pietersen Cuyter and Cornells 

Melyn, with the appendices, to their Committee on the affairs of the West India Company, Ac, .... 188 
Papers concerning the situation of affairs iu New Netherland, and the proceedings against Coruelis 

Melyn and his adherents, marked letter A. to letter R., viz : 188 

21. Excise Laws of New Netherland, 1644, , 188 

24. Letter of the Eight Men at the Manhattans to the Assembly of the XIX 190 

Resolution adopted by the commonalty of the Manhattans, 191 

Certificate of the election of the aforesaid Eight Men 192 

Petition of Mary n Adriaeusen and others, for leave to attack the Indians, 193 

25. Commission to Marvn Adriaeusen to attack the Indians at Corlaers Hook, 194 

28. Sundry depositions respecting conversations with Director Kieft, 194 

Interrogatories to be proposed to Fiscal Hendrick van Dy ck 195 

Interrogatories to be proposed to Dr. Johannes de la Montaigne, 197 

Interrogatories to be proposed to Cornells van Tienhoven 198 

Interrogatories to be proposed to the Reverend Everardus Bogardus, 200 

21. Petition of the Twelve Men at the Manhattans, and answer thereto 201 

8. Order dissolving the Board of Twelve Men 203 

8. Letter of William Kicft to Director Stuyvesant, complaining of Jochem P. Cuyter and Cornells Melyn, 203 

22. Letter of Jochem P. Cuyter and Cornells Melyn to Director Stuyvesant, iu answer to Kieft's charge,. . 205 

28. Letter of the Eight Men of the Manhattans to the Amsterdam Chamber of the West India Company, 

describing the sad condition of New Netherland and complaining of Director Kieft 209 

25. Judgment of Director Stuyvesant, banishing Jochem Pietersen Cuyter from New Netherland, 213 

18. Resolution of the States-General upon the proposition to throw open the trade to New Netherland, Ac, 214 
20. Resolution of the States-General that the inhabitants of New Netherland may ship their produce to 

Brazil, Angola, Ac 215 



CONTENTS. 



lix 



1648. 




February 


5. 


February 


7. 


February 


10. 


February 


10. 


February 


13. 


April 


9. 


April 


28. 


A pril 


28. 


April 


28. 


April 


30. 


May 


6. 


May 


6. 


August 


27. 


October 


21. 


October 


22. 


November 


1 6. 


Novembei 


■ 20. 


1649. 




April 


26. 


April 


26. 


June 


1. 


June 


4. 


July 


3. 


September 30. 


October 


9. 


July 


26. 


October 


13. 


July 


26. 


July 


26. 


July 


28. 


August 


12. 


October 


13. 


October 


14. 



Pagk 

Minute of the approval of the foregoing resolution by Deputy Mortimer of Zealand 215 

Resolution of the States-General, referring two memorials against Directors Kieft and Stuyvesant to 

the Directors of the West India Company, , 215 

Resolution of the States-General on the considerations of the Directors of the Zealand Chamber of the 

West India Company, in regard to the interests of the Company and New Netherland, Ac 215 

Minute concerning the regulation of the trade to New Netherland, Ac, Ac, 216 

General report of the Committee of the States-General upon the affairs of the West India Company, 

and the means of putting them on a better footing, Ac, with extracts of papers accompanying the 

same, 216 

Resolution of the States-General, referring the further memorial of Messrs. Cuyter and Melyn to their 

Committee on the affairs of the West India Company, Ac, 248 

Resolution of the States-General upon the report of their committee, charged to examine the case of 

Messrs. Cuyter and Melyn, to grant nn appeal to the memorialists, with an interdiction of the 

sentences pronounced against them by Director Stuyvesant and Council, on the 25th of July, 1647, 249 

Letter of the States-General to the Director in New Netherland thereupon, 249 

Mandamus in Case of Appeal, in favor of J. P. Cuyter and Cornells Melyn, against the sentence of 

the Director and Council in New Netherland, with inhibitory clause, Ac 250 

Resolution of the States-General, approving the draft of the foregoing mandamus 252 

Resolution of the States-General upon the further memorial of J. P. Cuyter and Cornells Melyn, to 

grant safeguard to the memorialists 252 

Passport in favor of J. P. Cuyter and Cornells Melyn, inhabitants of New Netherland, 253 

Minute of Mr. de Laet, Director of the West India Company, having delivered to the States-General 

authentic copies of the treaties, Ac, of the Company with Foreign Princes, Ac, within the limits of 

their charter, 253 

Resolution of the States-General, referring to a committee the petition of the guardians of John van 

Rensselaer, son of Kiliaen van Rensselaer, Ac, 254 

Resolution of the States-General upon the report of Mr. van Reinswoode to whom was referred the 

foregoing memorial, Ac, that copies of the same and of the appendices be sent to the West India 

Company, Ac, before a final disposition is made thereof, ite 254 

Letter of the Amsterdam Chamber of the West India Company to the States-General, about a Spanish 

barque confiscated in New Netherland, Ac 255 

Resolution of the States-General, referring back the memorial of Samuel Blommaert and others against 

the guardians of Mr. van Rensselaer, Ac. , 255 

Resolution of the States-General, referring to the Amsterdam Chamber of tho West India Company the 

memorial of the guardians of John van Rensselaer, complaining of Stuyvesant, Ac. 266 

Proceedings of the States-General in the case of Samuel Blommaert and others against Johan van 

Wiely and Wouter van Twiller, guardians of John van Rensselaer, Ac 256 

Further proceedings of the States-General in the above case, . . . . ■ 256 

Further proceedings of the States-General in the above case, 256 

Further proceedings of the States-General in the above cnse, 257 

Further proceedings of the States-General in the above case 257 

Resolution of the States-General upon a letter of Director Stuyvesant 257 

Letter of the Nine Men in New Netherland, to the States-General, stating that they have sent a com- 
mittee to Holland to obtain redress, Ac, 258 

Memorial of the Delegates from New Netherland to the States-General, asking for the appointment of a 

committee of their High Mightinesses, Ac, Ac 259 

Memorial to the States-General, signed by Adriaen van der Donck, Augustin Herman, and others, on be- 
half of the commonalty in New Netherland 259 

Additional observations on the memorial of the commonalty of New Netherland to the States-General, 262 

Remonstrance of New Netherland to the States-General, and the occurrences there 271 

Letter from Lubbertus van Dinelagen, Vice-Director of New Netherland, to the States-General, about the 

Deputies of the commonalty, , 319 

Resolution of the States-General, referring the foregoing letters, memorials, Ac, to a committee, to ex- 
amine and report upon the same, Ac, 319 

Resolution of the States-General in the case of the guardians of Van Rensselaer against Blommaert 

and others ,,,.,.. 820 



lx 



CONTENTS. 



1649. 
November 
November 

August 

November 
December 

December 



December 
December 

July 
December 

December 

December 



1650. 
January 



Janua 



T 



February 

Febru ary 
February 



1647. 
July 

1648. 
May 

May 

May 

1649. 
January 

March 

July 

August 
March 

March 
March 

March 
March 



Page. 

6. Further resolution of the State9-General in the above case, S20 

13. Resolution of the States-General, referring to the XIX. of the West India Company the further memo- 
rial of the guardians of John van Rensselaer, etc., Ac 320 

10. Letter of Peter Stuyvesant to the States-General, in answer to their High Mightinesses' letter of April 

28, 1648, concerning the case of Melyn, Ac 321 

26. Resolution of the States-General, referring the foregoing letter 324 

2. Resolution of the States-General, upon a petition of Cornelis van Tienhoven, Secretary of New Nether- 
land, as attorney for the Director and Council there, respecting an appeal (Melyn's) 324 

13. Resolution of the States-General, referring a further petition of the guardians of Van Rensselaer, Ac, . . 325 
Answer of Cornelis van Tienhoven, Secretary of New Nether] and, Ac, to'the appeal of Cornelis Melyn 

from the sentence of the Director and Council there, Ac, Ac 325 

13. Resolution of the States-General, referring the above memorial, Ac 326 

13. Memorial to the States-General, of Joost Teunissen, of New Netherland, baker, complaining of the con- 
duct of Director Stuyvesant, (with) 326 

26. Petition of Joo it Teunissen to Peter Stuyvesant, Director of New Netherland, Ac, 326 

13. Memorial to the States-General, of Sibout Claesseu, of New Netherland, house carpenter, complaining of 

Stuy vesanl's couduct, Ac, 328 

13. Resolution of the Slates-General, referring the above memorials (with another from Augustin Herman) 

to their High Mightinesses' committee, to examiue the same and report thereon 330 

16. Resolution of the States-General, referring two bags of papers, in the ease of Blommaert and De Laet, 
against Wiely and Van Twiller, guardians of Van Rensselaer, to the Provincial Court of Holland, 

Ac, to pronounce sentence, Ac 330 

Memorandum of things necessary to be done for New Netherland, 331 

Abstract, by the West India Company, of the Remonstrance from New Netherland 3S1 

27. A short digest of the excessive and very prejudicial neglect that New Netherland has experienced since 

it has been under the Directors of the West India Company, Ac. 332 

31. Answer of the West India Company to the several points contained in the Abstract of the Remon- 
strance from New Netherland. (Note. — The original of this document is in the handwriting of 
Cornelis van Tienhoven ) 338 

7. Petition of the Delegates from New Netherland to the States-General, praying dispatch in the redress 

of their grievances, Ac, 34 6 

7. Resolution of the States-General, referring the foregoing petition, Ac, 347 

8. Memorial of Cornelis Melyn, Patroon on Staten Island, to the States-General, complaining of Director 

Stuyvesant's irreverent neglect of their High Mightinesses' mandamus, Ac, with the following 
papers : 348 

25. Sentence pronounced by Director Stuyvesant on Cornelis Melyn 349 

6. Authority to serve the mandamus on Director Stuyvesant, Ac, 351 

19. Letter of the Prince of Orange to Direotor Stuyvesant, admonishing him not to molest J. P. Cuyter and 

Cornelis Melyn 351 

22. Receipt from the Amsterdam Chamber of the West India Company, of a sealed letter from the States- 

General 352 

2. Cornelis van Tienhoven's certificate that Mr. Melyn had delivered to Director Stuyvesant certain letters 

from the States-General and the Prince of Orange 352 

8. Certificate of the service of the States-General mandamus on Director Stuyvesant in the church, in 

presence of the commonalty, 352 

29. Cornelis Melyn's " disrespectful protest" handed to Mde Stuyvesant, 353 

1. Director Stuyvesant's answer to Cornelis Melyn's disrespectful protest, 354 

16. Return of service made of their High Mightinesses' mandamus on Vice-Director Lubbert van 

Dinelnge, and his answer 355 

1G. Return of service of the mandamus on the members of the Council and others, and their answers, 355 

1 6. Return of service of the mandamus on Fiscal van Dyck, and his answer 356 

23. Return of service of the mandamus on Secretary vau Tienhoven, and his answer, 357 

23. Return of service of the mandamus on Jan Jansen Damen, and his answer, 357 



CONTENTS. 



Ixi 



1649. 
August 10. 

December 10. 

1C50. 
February 8. 
February 22. 



March 


S. 


March 


4. 


March 


7. 


March 


12. 


March 


12. 


March 


12. 


March 


12. 


March 


19. 


March 


23. 


March 


24. 


March 


14. 


Marcli 


31. 


April 


1. 


April 
April 
April 


1. 
7. 
8. 


April 
April 


8. 
8. 



April 



11. 



1649. 
December 17. 
November 29. 
December 13, 

1650 
April 11 

April 11 

April 11 

April 11 



Page. 
Declaration of Vice-Director van Dincilage and Mr. La Montagne, of Director Stuyvesant's hostility to 

Mr. Melyn's son-in-law, 358 

Declaration of William Hendrickscn, that he distilled brandy on Slaten Island 358 

Resolution of the States-General, referring the foregoing memorial, &c, &c. 359 

Observations on the boundaries and colonization of New Netherland, submitted by Secretary Cornelia 

van Tieuhoven to the committee of the States-General, &c, 359 

Plan submitted by the Deputies of the West India Company respecting the trade and colonization of 

Now Netherland. (The original of this document is in the handwriting of Van Tienhoven) 362 

Schedule of public charges in New England; submitted by Secretary van Tienhoven to the committee 

of the States-General, 364 

Information on the occupation of land in New Netherland for colonies or private bonweries, <ic, sub- 
mitted by Secretary Tienhoven to the committee of the States-General 365 

Observations on the duties exacted by the West India Company upon goods destined to New Nether- 
land, and whether it is best to continue the same, &c, submitted to the Committee of the States- 
General by the Deputies from New Netherland 372 

Petition of the Delegates from New Netherland, stating the insufficiency of shipping accommodations, 
•fee., for the numbers of persons who are desirous to emigrate to New Netherland, ite., with a certifi- 
cate of William Thomassen, master of the ship Valckenier, annexed 376 

Resolution of the States-General on the report of their committee upon the subject of the affairs of 

the West India Company, New Netherland, <fcc., Ac 377 

Letter of the States-General to the Amsterdam Chamber of the West India Company, upon the fore- 
going resolution 378 

Letter of the States-General to all the Chambers of the West India Company, except the one at Amster- 
dam, on the same subject, . . 379 

Contract between the West India Company and Van der Donclc and others, for the transportation of 

200 persons to New Netherland, etc., 379 

Resolution of the States-General thereupon, 880 

Resolution of the States of Holland and West Fricsland respecting the Delegates from New Nether- 
land, <te 380 

Letter of the Groningen Chamber of the West India Company to the States-General respecting tho 

trade to New Netherland 381 

Resolution of the States-General thereupon, 381 

Resolution of the States-General upon the representation of the committee on the affairs of the West 
India Company, that Director Stuyvesant be ordered not to molest the Delegates from New Nether- 
land, who are about to return, &c, <fcc 382 

Letter of the States-General to Director Stuyvesant, 382 

Resolution of the States-General to grant Manorial privileges to John van Rensselaer, <Lc, <tc, 383 

Resolution of the States-General to admit Direk van Sehelluyue to practice as Notary public in New 

Netherland 384 

Commission of Dirck van Schelluyne, as notary in New Netherland, <fcc., 384 

Resolution of the States of Holland upon the petition of the Deputies from New Netherland about the 

transport of emigrants, &c, 385 

Memorial of the Delegates from New Netherland to the committee of the States-General respecting the 

state of affairs in New Netherland, Ac, (with) 385 

Extract of a letter from Janneken Melyn, dated at New Netherland 386 

Extract from the minutes of the Council at New Netherland, 386 

Protest of Vice-Director van Dinelagen against Director Stuyvesant, for having exported horses to 

Barbadoes, 387 

Draft report of the Committee of the States-General to whom was referred the Remonstrance from New 

Netherland, with provisional articles for the government, Ac., of that country, 387 

Remarks of the West India Company upon the foregoing report 391 

Preamble to the proposed provisional articles, ifcc., with remarks of the West India Company 393 

Memorial of Adriaen van der Donek to the Committee of the States-General, demanding that Secretary 

van Tieuhoven be examined on interrogatories, &c. 395 



Ixii CONTENTS. 

1650. Page. 

April 1 1. Resolution of the States-General upon the proposed provisional articles, Ac., 396 

April 11. Resolution of the States-General, authorizing the sending, <fcc, of arms and ammunition to New Nether- 
land, to be distributed under the direction of the government there, 397 

April 12. Memorial of the Delegates from New Netherland to the States-General respecting the hostilities carried 

on by the Spaniards, notwithstanding the peace, (with) 897 

April 12. Deposition of Wilhehn Noble, respecting the Spaniards, <fec, <fec, 398 

April 12. Resolution of the States-General to write to Director Stuy vesant to publish the treaty of peace (of West- 
phalia) in New Netherland, &c, 399 

April 12. Letter of the States-General to Director Stuy vesant thereupon 399 

April 14. Resolution of the States-General, referring the draft of the provisional order for the government, <fec., 

of New Netherland, to their committee, ifec, (fee, 400 

May 13. Extract of the Points, upon which the committee of the States-General were charged to report, 400 

May 24. Draft of Freedoms and Exemptions, proposed by the West India Company for the approval of the com- 
mittee of the States-General, 401 

June 8. Resolution of the States-General, upon the receipt of a letter from the Provincial Court of Holland, <fec., 

in the case of Blommaert et al. vs. the guardians of Van Rensselaer 406 

June 14. Resolution of the States General, approving, <fec, the sentence (which is inserted at length) of the 

Court of Holland, in the case of Samuel Blommaert et al. vs. Wouter van Twiller et al., executors 

of the late Kiliaen van Rensselaer, 406 

June 30. Resolution of the States-General to grant to Cornelis Melyn a passport, or 6afe conduct, for his return 

to New Netherland, <fec, 407 

June 30. Letter of protection of the States-General in favor of Cornelis Melyn, who is about to return to New 

Netherland 408 

July 1. Resolution of the States-General, approving the draft of the foregoing 409 

July 21. Resolution of the States-General, instructing their committee upon the affairs of the West India 

Company to examine Cornelis van Tienhoven, now at the Hague, upon certain points respecting 

matters in New Netherland, &c, 409 

July 21. Interrogatories upon which the committee of the States-General is to examine Secretary Cornelis van 

Tienhoven 409 

July 20. Extracts from the papers of Director Kieft, viz : 414 

1641. 
August 29. Proposals of Director Kieft to the commonalty, and the election, in consequence, of the Twelve Men,. . 414 
1642. 

January 21. Resolution of the Twelve Men, on a proposed expedition against the Indians 415 

1643. 

February 25. Commission to Marj-n Adriaensen to attack the Indians at Corlaer's Hook 416 

February 27. Petition of the inhabitants of Long Island for leave to attack the Indians, with the answer thereto,. . . 416 
1650. 

August 9. Report of the Committee of the States-General on Melyn's papers, 417 

August 9. Resolution of the States-General upon the foregoing report, <fec 418 

August 17. Letter of Director Stuyvesant to the States-General 418 

October 15. Resolution of the States-General thereupon 420 

September 1 3. Letter of the Selectmen of New Amsterdam to the States-General 420 

November 18. Resolution of the States- General, referring the foregoing letter, and one from Adriaen van der Donck, 

to their committee, etc., 421 

November 29. Secretary van Tienhoven's answer to the Remonstrance from New Netherland 422 

Extract of the observations by the committee of the Stockholders of the West India Company, respect- 
ing the affairs in New Netherland, <fcc, 432 

1651. 

January 14. Resolution of the States-General, referring a memorial of Adriaen van der Donck, Delegate from New 

Netherland 433 

January 14. Resolution of the States-General, ordering their proceedings about the East and West India Companies 

to be continued to be kept in separate registers 433 

February 7. Order of the Committee of the States-General, that Cornelis van Tienhoven do answer the interrogato- 
ries touching the origin of the war with the Indians 433 

March 14. Resolution of the States-General to write to the Amsterdam Chamber of the West India Company to 

send Jan Claessen Damen and Cornelis van Tienhoven to the Hague, cfec 434 



CONTENTS. Ixiii 

1651. p AGB . 

March 14. Letter of the States-General to the West India Company thereupon 434 

March 21. Resolution of the States-General, referring the answer of the West India Company, 435 

April 21. Resolution of the States-General to write to the West India Company not to allow Secretary van Tien- 

hoven to return to New Nctherland, and also that they instruct the captain of the 6hip Waterhont, 

not to receive him on board 435 

April 21. Letter of the States-General to the West India Company thereupon, 435 

August 19. Memorial to the States-General from certain inhabitants and merchants of Holland, trading to Virginia, 

&c, complaining of the conduct of the English, &c 436 

November 23. Secret resolution of the States-General, recommending the subject of the trade to Virginia, <fcc, to the 

serious consideration of their Ambassadors to Englaud, <fcc 437 

1652. 

February 10. Memorial of Adriaen van der Donck, Delegate from New Netherland, to the States-General, respecting 

affairs in that country, 438 

1650. 

December 22. Letter to the States-General from the Selectmen in New Netherland, 441 

December 22. Declaration of Vice-Director van Dinclageu and Fiscal van Dyck, before a notary at Manhaltan, 

respecting the conduct of Director Stuy vesant 441 

1652. 

February 10. Resolution of the States-General, referring the foregoing documents 442 

February 16. Report of the committee of the States-General, to which was referred the memorial, &c, presented by 
Adriaen van der Donck, on the 10th instant, and the resolution of their High Mightinesses 

thereon 443 

February 16. Extracts and copies of letters, journals, <fec, from New Netherland, viz: 

1650. 
August 17. Extract of a letter from the Selectmen to Adriaen van der Donck — condition of things at the 

Manhattans 444 

September 10. Extract of two letters from Augustin Herman — Stuy vesant does as he pleases, 444 

September 13. Extract of a letter from Jacob van Couweuhoven and Dierck van Schelluyne — Selectmen misrepre- 
sented 445 

September 8. Extract of a letter from Vice-Director Dincklage — law is violated, 445 

September 13. Extract of a letter from the Selectmen, complaining of all redress being postponed, 445 

July 4. Extract of the journal kept by order of the commonalty — Stuyvesant appropriates to himself the pew 

in the church belonging to the Selectmen 445 

September 12. Extract of a letter from Vice-Director Dincklage — abuses as notorious as the sun at noonday 446 

September 6. Extract of a letter from the Selectmen — reliance still placed on their High Mightinesses* promises, . . . . 446 

Extract of a memoir sent by Vice-Director van Dincklage — Stuyvesant violates his promises, 446 

October 6. Extract of a letter from Jacob van Couweuhoven and Dirck van Schelluyne — condition of the country 

worse and worse — Stuyvesant gone to New England, 446 

September 13. Letter of the Selectmen of New Amsterdam to the States-General, again applying for redress of the 

public grievances 447 

Letter of the Selectmen of New Amsterdam to the committee of the States-General, to the like effect, 44 8 
August 29. Protest of the Selectmen of New Amsterdam against the Director and Council, for refusing to recog- 
nize them and for having deprived them of their pew in the church, 448 

November 30. Extract from the journal of the Selectmen — guns sold to the Indians of Cannarse (L. I.), 449 

December 22. Extract of a letter from the Selectmen — arrival of Melyn — vindicate their conduct, 449 

November 3. Extract of a declaration of Vice-Director van Dincklage as to what the Fiscal told him, 449 

November 3. Extract of a declaration of Jochem Pieters Cuyter — the Chamber of Amsterdam will uphold the Dii ector, 

even unto blood, 450 

December 22. Extract of a letter from the Selectmen — are nothing but ciphers — ignored by Stuyvesant, whom the 

Vice- Director and Fiscal protest against, 450 

November 26. Extract of a letter from the Selectmen — visit of Stuyvesant to Hartford — urge Van der Donck to 
renewed exertion — Swedes on the South river unresisted — Stuyvesant instructed not to heed any 

passport from their High Mightinesses, 450 

1651. 
September 12. Extract of a letter from the Selectmen — they are dismissed from office and menaced with prosecution, 452 
October 18. Extract of a letter from Notary van Schelluyne — dare not prepare any more writings — living like 

sheep among wolves, 462 



Ixiv 



CONTENTS. 



1651. Paoe - 
September 19. Extractof aLatiu letter from Vice-Director van Dincklage — the older Stuyvesant grows the worse he gets, 453 
September 20. Extract of a letter from Augustin Herman — Van Tieuhoven returned, and exposed by the basket- 
maker's daughter, 453 

October 11. Extract of a letter from Notary van Schelluyne — continues to be persecuted — protest from Fiscal 

van Dyck, 454 

February 2S. Extract of a counter protest of Vice-Director van Dincklage against the Director and Council, with a 

few of his charges against them, 454 

May 2. Extract of the declaration of Brant van Slechtenhorst, Director of the Colonie Rensselaerswyck — Vice- 
Director van Dincklage thrust out the Council and committed to the guard-house 456 

September 17. Extract of a letter from Vice-Director van Dincklage — waste of the public property, 457 

1652. 
February 16. Memoir of Adriaen van der Donck respecting the ancient boundaries of New Netherland, as first 
occupied in 1609 ; the usurpations by the English from time to time, and what was ceded to them 

by Director Stuyvesant, . . 457 

News from New England in 1650, 460 

Letter of the States-General to the different Chambers of the West India Company, about New Nether- 
land — provisional order, 462 

Letter of the Amsterdam Chamber of the West India Company to the States-General, in reply, 462 

Resolution of the States-General thereupon, 463 

Letter of the Dordrecht Chamber of the West India Company to the States-General, (with) 463 

Observations of the Dordrecht Chamber respecting the government of New Netherland, &c. 463 

Resolution of the States-General thereupon, 465 

Letter of the Zealand Chamber of the West India Company to the States-General 465 

Resolution of the States-General thereupon 466 

Letter of the Delft Chamber of the West India Company to the States-General , 467 

Resolution of the States-General thereupon 467 

Resolution of the States-General upon the petition of Engletje Wouters, 467 

Letter of the States-General to the Director and Council at New Netherland thereupon 468 

Letter of the Groningen Chamber of the West India Company to the States-General, 468 

Resolution of the States-General thereupon, 469 

Resolution of the States-General, upon the petition of John and Charles Gabry, to write to Stuyvesant 

in their behalf, 469 

Letter of the States-General to Director Stuyvesant thereupon, 469 

Resolution of the States-General to grant to Adriaen van der Donck, Patroon of Colendonck, in New 

Netherland, " veniam testandi et disponendi," as formerly granted to Van Rensselaer 470 

26. Patent to Adriaen van der Donek, investing him with aright to make a testamentary disposition of his 

property in New Netherland 470 

Resolution of the States-General, recalling Director Peter Stuyvesant 471 

Letter of the States-General to Stuyvesant thereupon, 472 

Letter of the States-General to the West India Company thereupon 472 

Resolution of the States-General, on the petition of Jan van Buren, to write to the Director and 
Council in New Netherland to sustain Dirck van Schelluyne in his profession as notary in New 

Netherland 472 

Letter of the States-General to Stuyvesant thereupon, 473 

Resolution of the States-General, referring to their committee a memorial of Martin Beekman and 

Cornells Melyn, complaining of Director Stuyvesant, Ac, 473 

13. Memorial of Adriaen van der Donck to the committee of the States-General, stating his intended 

return to New Netherland, &a., &a., 473 

13. Resolution of the States-General thereupon, 474 

13. Secret resolution of the States-General respecting the answer of the Council of State, in England, to 
the Ambassadors of the United Netherlands, upon the 36 Articles of the proposed Treaty, 475 

14. Secret resolution of the States-General upon the foregoing matter 475 

16. Resolution of the States-General, revoking their letter of recall to Stuyvesant, of the 27th of April Inst, 

and ordering Van der Donck to deliver up the same, &c, 475 

24. Memorial of Adriaen van der Donck to the States-General respecting various matters connected with 

his visit to Holland on behalf of the commonalty at New Netherland, aic. 476 



February 


10. 


February 


23. 


February 


24. 


March 


2. 


March 


2. 


March 


8. 


March 


1. 


March 


8. 


March 


8. 


March 


13. 


March 


15. 


March 


15. 


March 


6. 


April 


13. 


April 


22. 


April 


22. 


April 


26. 



April 



April 


27. 


April 


27. 


April 


27. 


April 


27. 


April 


27. 


April 


27. 



May 

May 
May 

May 

May 

May 



CONTENTS. 



lxv 



1662 - Pag*. 

May 24. Resolution of the States-General thereupon ^o 

May 24. Letter of the States-General to the different Chambers of the West India Company upon the foregoing 

matter, 41-g 

May 28. Letter of the Amsterdam Chamber of the West India Company, to the States-General, respecting their 

High Migtinesses' resolution of 16th May, revoking Stuyvesant's recall, <fcc 479 

May 28. Resolution of the States-General thereupon, 41™ 

June 20. Minute of the receipt of a letter from A. V. de Jonge, Accountant-General of the West India Company, 

in place of Samuel Blommaert, lately deceased, &c, 400 

June 22. Resolution of the States-General, referring a letter from the Amsterdam Chamber of the West India 

Company in answer to their High Mightinesses' letter of 24th May, to a committee, <fec., 4S0 

June 24. Letter of the Dordtrecht Chamber of the West India Company to the States-General, in answer to 

theirs of 24th May 480 

June 24. Resolution of the States General thereupon, 481 

July 17. Secret resolution of the States-General on the commencement of the war with England 481 

July 17. Secret resolution of the States-General to send a frigate to New Netherland, ifcc. 482 

July 22. Secret resolution of the States-General on the subject of the preservation of New Netherland <fec. 482 

July 22. Secret resolution of the States-General to write to Director Stuyvesant, that in the present situation of 

affairs between England and the United Provinces, he keep a careful watch, and that no person be 

employed, of whose devotion to the State he is not assured, etc., <fec, 482 

July 22. Letter of the States-General to Stuyvesant thereupon 433 

July 81. Secret memoir of the Directors of the West India Company to the committee of the States-General, re- 
specting the preservation of Brazil and New Netherland, <£c, 483 

July 31. Secret resolution of the States-General upon the report of their committee, <fcc, <fcc, 484 

August 6. Memorial of Adriaen van der Donck to the States-General, asking for speedy action on his memorial 

already presented, <fec 4gg 

August 5. Resolution of the States-General, referring the foregoing memorial to their committee, (fee, 485 

August 7. Proposals of the Dutch for Free Trade and for the settlement of the boundary of New Netherland, with 

the answer of the English Council of State thereto. 485 

August 13. Resolution of the States General, referring back to their committee the memorial of the West India 

Company, of July 31st, respecting the preservation, <fcc, of Brazil and New Netherland 487 

September 3. Resolution of the States-General on the projected Invasion of New Netherland, ifcc 487 

September 3. Letter of the Stales-General to the Amstesdam Chamber, thereupon, 4gg 

September 18. Defence of Hendrick van Dyck, Fiscal in New Netherland, (with) 489 

September 18. Letter of Hendrick van Dyck to the States-General, 491 

1646. 

July 28. Certificate that Director Stuyvesant hath taken the oath of office 4 92 

July 10. Commission of Petrus Stuyvesant as Director of Curasao, 492 

1045. 

May 5. Commission of Petrus Stuyvesant as Director of New Netherland, 492 

May 5. Commission of Lubbertus van Dinclage, as Vice-Director of New Netherland 4g3 

June 23. Commission of Hendricks van Dyck, as Fiscal of New Netherland 494 

1652. 
September 16. Instructions to the Director and Council of New Netherland, dated 7th July, 1645, with Van Dyck's 

comment on each article 495 

Letter of the States-General to the Director and Council of New Netherland, dated 1st April, 1650, with 

Van Dyck's commentary, showing how it was not obeyed, 502 

Instructions to Hendrick van Dyck, as Fiscal of New Netherland, with his observation on each article 504 

March 28. Lampoon on Director Stuyvesant, with explanations 510 

March 28. Extract from the Resolutions of the Council and Selectmen of New Netherland, dismissing Van Dyke 

from office, with the comments of the latter 510 

March 28. Extract of another Resolution, with Van Dyck's comments 511 

September 16. Letter of the Amsterdam Chamber of the West India Company to Fiscal Van Dyck, dated 9th April, 

1652, with the latter's answer, 512 

1651. 

December 6. Declaration of Elizabeth Jans, inn-keeper of Amsterdam, that Cornelis van Tienhoven frequented her 

house with one Lysbert Jansen Croon, 614 

I 



lxvi 



CONTENTS. 



1651. 




December 


8. 


December 


8. 


Di mber 


11. 


16 i 1. 




] December 


■ 6. 


December 


20. 


December 


28. 


] lecember 


28. 


December 81. 


1658. 




January 


2. 


January 


15. 


January 


17. 


January 


17. 


February 


C. 


February 


10. 


February 


20. 


Marcli 


4. 


April 


10. 


April 


10. 


Way 


14 


May 


14. 


May 


16. 


May 


16. 


May 


21. 


May 


24. 


June 


19. 


Jan.' 


25. 


June 


26. 


AugUBf 


6. 


August 


4. 


August 


6. 




21. 




21. 


November 6. 


Novembi 


?r 6. 


November 6. 



Page. 
Declaration of Louisa Nofi that she hired lodgings in Amsterdam for Cornelia van Tieidioven and a 

woman, and that lie had been caught by the Sheriff, 515 

Declaration of Jacob Thomassen to the like effect, 516 

Declaration of Margaretta Tortus, that Van Ticnhoven and Lysbet Jansen lived as man and wife 517 

Resolution of the States-General, referring the foregoing defence and appendices, 518 

Resolution of the States-General, referring a memorial of Van Rensselaer, dc Laetaud others, complain- 
ing of the conduct of Director Stuyvesant, to a committee 518 

Resolution of the States-General, on the report of the committee, to send the above mentioned memo- 
rial to the Amsterdam Chamber of the West India Company for information upon the matters 

therein stated 519 

Letter of the States-General to the Amsterdam Chamber of the West India Company thereupon 519 

Letter of the Amsterdam Chamber of the West India Company to the States-General, in answer 519 

Resolution of the States-General thereupon 520 

Letter of the Amsterdam Chamber of the West India Company to the States-General, ( with ) 520 

Points extracted from the memorial of the Patroon, sfee., of Rensselaerswyck to the States-General, and 

the remarks of the Amsterdam Chamber thereupon 522 

Points against the Patroon, <fec, whereupon satisfaction is to be demanded, 524 

Resolution of the States-General, referring the foregoing papers, ifcc, 526 

Resolution of the States-General upon the report of the Committee on the foregoing matter, 526 

Resolution of the States-General, upon the report of their committee, to send Fiscal van Dyck's com- 
plaint against Director Stuyvesant to the West India Company, 526 

Resolution of the States-General, referring a memorial of Van Rensselaer, <fcc, to a committee 527 

Resolution of the States-General, refusing to interfere in the case of a sentence pronounced in New 

Netherland against the ship Fortuyn 527 

Resolution of the States-General to grant to Hendrick van der Capelle a writ of appeal, with an 

enjoining clause, against a sentence pronounced in New Netherland 527 

Writ of appeal granted by the States-General to Hendrick van der Capelle against a sentence of 

Director Stuyvesant, ifee , 628 

Letter of the Amsterdam Chamber of the West India Company to the States-General, recommending 

Van dor Donek's book, entitled Beschryvingc van Nieu Nederland, 530 

Resolution of the States-General, referring Adiiaen van der Donek's memorial for a copyright of his 

book on New Netherland, &c, to a committee, 531 

Resolution of the States-General, calling on the Amsterdam Chamber of the West India Company for a 

copy of Van der Donek's book, to be examined, Ac. 531 

Letter to the West India Company thereupon, 531 

Letter of the West India Company in reply, transmitting Van der Donek's book 532 

Resolution of the States-General, granting Adriaen van der Donck a copyright for fifteen years in his 

book, entitled Beschryvinge van Nieu Nederland, 533 

Resolution of the States-General, referring to a memorial of John de Laet, against Tausain Muyeaert, 

respecting Rensselaerswyck, dec, 633 

Resolution of the States-General, upon the report of their committee, to send the above case to the 

Provincial Court of Holland, whose sentence the States-General will confirm 533 

Letter to the Court of Holland thereupon 534 

Resolution of the States-General to seud to Van der Capelle a copy of, 634 

Resolution of the States of Holland, Ac, on appeals from sentences in New Netherland 634 

Letter of the States-General thereupon 535 

Memorial of Van der Capelle to the States-General, in answer to their letter of Btb August 635 

Resolution of the States < leneral thereupon 536 

Resolution of the States-General on the presentation of papers from the West India Company relating 

to the boundary of New Netherland, &c 637 

Papers on the boundary in America between the Dutch and English 539 

Letter of the West India Company to the States-General, praying that the boundaries in New Netherland 

may be settled, ( with ) 641 



CONTENTS. Jxvii 

1651. Paqe. 

r_v 28. A description of the ancient boundarii of \f.v Netherland, with suggestions of Director Stuyvcsant 

a- to what would be a proper boundary 542 

• >er 6. Memorial respecting the li nit claimed l>y the West India Company, in virtue of their 

charter, in New Netherland 548 

iber 26. Extract of a letter of Direotor Stuyvi an I to the West India Company, giving an account of hia visit 

to Hartford 54s 

v ' ber Resolution of the States-General on the reoei| 1 of the foregoing papers, &c 649 

December 30. Letter of Captain Kregier and ol hers, a committee on behalf of the people of the Manhattans and Long 

d, i" the Burgomasl ers of Amsterdam, (with) 549 

December 11. Petition of the c lonalty of New Netherland to Director Stuyvcsant 550 

Short notes, in form of explanation of some points contained in the pr ling petition of the colonies 

and villages of New Netherland 553 

1654. 

July 9. Letter from the Burgomasters of Amsterdam to Director Stuyvcsant, notifying the intention to send 

some orphans to New Netherland, 556 

September 17. Resolution of the States General to desire the XIX. of the West India Company to send their High 

■ 1 11 ssee 1 condensed report on the boundary in New Netherland, <fec. 556 

September 29. Resolution of the States-I leneral to send to their Ambassadors in England the memoir and other papers 

on the boundary qui stion, furnished by the West India Company, <£c., 556 

Si ptember 29. Letter of the States-General to their Ambassadors in England 557 

October 9. Letter of Messrs. Beveraingk and Nieupoort, Ambassadors in England, to the States-General 557 

December 4. Resolution of the States of Holland, Ac, respecting the boundary question in New Netherland 559 

iber 27. Letter of Messrs. Beverninu'k and Nieupoort, Ambassadors at London, to Mr. Ruyseh, the Greffier of the 
States-General, in answer to their High Mightinesses' letter of 29th September last, respecting the 

boundary question in New Netherland, ( with ) 559 

Memorandum prepared by the Ambassadors in London, resjiecting theEnglish and Dutch possessions in 

America, &c., 561 

ber 9. Resolution of the Slates I leneral upon the foregoing documents 562 

December 9. Letter of the States-General to the West India Company thereupon, 563 

December 30. Letter of the West India Company to the States-I leneral, in reply, (with) 563 

December 30. Memoir on the English encroachments on New Netherland 564 

1641. 

October 10. Articles proposed to the West India Company by Rev. Hugh Peters, 563 

October 10. Authority to Rev. Hugh Peters, signed by John Wiuthrop, Governor of Massachusetts, and John 

Il.ivnes, Governor of Connecticut, 568 

1655. 
January 2. Resolution of the States-General to send copies of the foregoing documents to Mr. Nieupoort, their 

Ambassador at London, <fee. 568 

January 2. Letter of the States-General to Ambassador N ieupoort thereupon 569 

December 28. Letter of the Zealand Chamber of the West India Company to the States-General 569 

1655. 

January 4. Resolution of the States-General thereupon, 570 

January 14. Resolution of the States-General, referring a memorial presented on behalf of Van de Capelle, to a 

committee, Ac. 571 

April 3. Resolution of the Stateb-General upon a further memorial of Van de Capelle 571 

April 24. Resolution of the States-General to write to Stuyvesant, in favor of Charles Gabry, merchant of 

Amsterdam 571 

April 24. Letter of the States General to Director Stuyn sant thereupon, 672 

May 1. Tariff of 1655 572 

May 20. Letter of the Amsterdam Chamber of the West India Company to the States-General, respecting the 

boundary question in New Netherland. etc. 573 

May 24. 1 D of the States-General thereupon, to write to Ambassador Nieupoort, at London, Arc., .",74 

May - I. Letter of the States-General to Ambassador Nieupoort thereupon 574 



] xv jii CONTENTS. 

1656. Page. 
Mny 29. Letter of the Amsterdam Chamber of the West India Company to the Slates-General, about the boun- 
dary question in New Netherland, 574 

May 31. Resolution of the States-General thereupon, to write to Ambassador Nieupoort 575 

May 81. Letter of the States-General to Ambassador Nieupoort thereupon, 675 

July 10. Resolution of the States-General, upon the memorial of ihe Spanish Ambassador asking for the arrest of 

a piratical vessel in the harbor of New Netherland, &c 576 

July 28. Resolution of the States-General, referring to a committee a letter of the West India Company, dated 

at Amsterdam, July 26, together with some papers about New Netherland, &c 576 

December ft. Letter of Don Estevan de Gatnarra y Contrevus, the Spanish Ambassador at the Ilagne, to the 

States-General, in reference to the arrest of Sebastian de Raeff, <&c, alleged pirates, now in New 

Netherland, &c 676 

December 11. Resolution of the States-General, referring the above to their committee, &c, 678 

December 31. Letter of Ambassador Nieupoort to the States-General, stating that he has just heard that the Swedes 

had been driven out of New Netherland by the Dutch, itc 678 

1666. 

January 6. Resolution of the States-General thereupon, to write to the] West India Company for information 679 

January 6. Letter of the States-General thereupon, 680 

January 6. Letter of Don Estevan de Gamarra y Contrevas, the Spanish Ambassador, to the States-General, again 

referring to the ease of Sebastian de Raeff, an alleged pirate, in New Netherland, and asking for 

letters, <fee. , in favor of Juan Gallardo, lie 580 

January 6. Resolution of the States General thereupon, 581 

January 10. Further resolution of the States-General upon the memorial of the Spanish Ambassador 681 

January 10. Letter of the States-General to Director Stuyvesant thereupon, 581 

January 7. Letter of Ambassador Nieupoort to the States-General, referring to the news about the Swedes in New 

Netherland, <fee. 582 

January 13. Letter of the Amsterdam Chamber of the West India Company to the States-General, in answer to their 

letter of the 6th January, respecting the Swedes in New Netherland, <kc, 683 

January 15. Resolution of the States-General thereupon 684 

January 18. Further resolution of the States-General thereupon 584 

January 18. Letter of the States-General to the West India Company respecting the Swedes, itc, 684 

January 28. Report of the Amsterdam Chamber of the West India Company respecting the Swedes who have 

arrived from New Netherland, (with) 585 

January 24. Letter of the West India Company to the States-General, (with) 687 

January 24. Deduction, or a Clear and precise Account of the condition of the South river, in New Netherland, and 

of the unseemly conduct of the Swedes there, tfcc, 587 

Extracts of letters from William Kieft, formerly Director in New Netherland, to the West India 

Company, 1638-1640, 592 

Deed of sale by the Indians of lands on the Schuylkill, <fcc, signed atFortBeversrede, on the South river, 593 
1648. 

November 9. Extract of a letter from Adriaen van Tienhoven to Peter Stuy vesant, dated at Fort Beversrede, 694 

1651. 

July 16. Memorial of the inhabitants of Schuylkill to Director Stuyvesant 691 

July 30. Declaration of Wappanghzewan, an Indian sachem, respecting Governor Printz' wishes to buy his lands 

on South river, <fcc : 696 

July 9. Declaration of Mattehoorn and two other Indians, respecting the lauds on the South river, Ac., dated 

Fort Nassau 697 

1055. 
July 19. Declaration of Amattehooren and other Indians, of the cession of certain lands on South river to Peter 

Stuyvesant, " Chief Sachem of the Manhattans," 599 

1653. 
October 6. Extract of a letter from Director Stuyvesant to the West India Company, 600 

Extract of a letter from Gerrit Bicker, Commandant at Fort Casimier, to Peter Stuyvesant, 601 

1654. 

July 27. Extract of a letter of Peter Stuyvesant to the West India Company, dated 27th July, 1654, 601 

Depositions of various persons respecting the Swedes on the South River, taken before Secretary 

van Ruy ven, 1654 602 

May 27. Extract of a letter from Governor John Risingh to Director Stuyvesant, 606 



CONTENTS. 



lxix 



1655. 




September 11. 


Sept (Millie 


r25. 


1656. 




January 


28. 


February 


12. 


February 


22. 


February 


22. 


February 


22. 


March 


3. 


March 


16. 


March 


22. 


March 


22. 


March 


24. 


March 


29. 


April 


27. 


June 


30. 


July 


4. 


July 


12. 



August 

August 
August 



August 1 0. 

August 10. 

August 10. 

August 12. 

August 12. 

August 12. 

August 16. 

August 16. 

October 4. 

1655. 

October 30. 

September 2. 

1656. 

October 4. 



Page. 
Capitulation and conditions upon which Fort Casimir was surrendered by Suen Schuts to Director 

Stuyvesant 607 

Capitulation between Kisingh and Stuyvesant at Fort Christina, 607 

Resolution of the States-General upon the receipt of the foregoing documents, referring them to a secret 

committee, <tc 609 

Resolution of the Council of the City of Amsterdam, appointing a committee to consider how trade in 

New Netherland could be promoted, 609 

Letter of the Directors of the Amsterdam Chamber of the West India Company to the States-General, 

respecting the boundary question in New Netherland 610 

Resolution of the States-General thereupon, to ratify the articles of agreement made at Hartford on 19th 

September, 1650, Ac, Ac 610 

Ratification of the Treaty of Hartford by the States-General, 611 

Letter of a Committee of the West India Company to the Committee of the City of Amsterdam,. . . . 612 

Points proposed by the Assembly of the XIX. to the States-General, in the year 1654 613 

Resolution of the Common Council of the City of Amsterdam to purchase a tract of land in New 

Netherland, 614 

Resolution of the Amsterdam Chamber of the West India Company, appointing a committee to arrauge 

with the City of Amsterdam the conditions for planting a Colonie in New Netherland 615 

Letter of Mr. Appelboom, the Swedish Minister, to the States-General, complaining of the conduct of the 

West India Company's officers in New Netherland, in dispossessing the Swedes of the South river,. 615 

Resolution of the States-General thereupon, 616 

Resolution of the States of Holland, Ac, upon the foregoing memorial, Ac., 616 

Draft of the City of Amsterdam on the Exchange Bank, in favor of the Waldenses, 617 

Letter of the Council of Amsterdam to Director Stuyvesant, recommending Jan Gailardo Ferraia 617 

Draft of the City of Amsterdam in favor of the Waldenses, 618 

Resolution of the Council of Amsterdam on a plan for colonizing New Netherland, 618 

Resolution of the Council of Amsterdam, approving the conditions for planting a Colonie on the South 

riv CT 618 

Draft of conditions offered by the City of Amsterdam to emigrants to New Netherland, with remarks 

of the West India Company, 619 

Form of Permit to sail to New Netherland, 625 

Resolution of the States-General, referring an agreement entered into by the West India Company 

with the City of Amsterdam, etc 626 

Letter of the Slates-General to the XIX. thereupon 627 

Letter of the Amsterdam Chamber of the West India Company to the States-General, respecting the 

City of Amsterdam's Colonie in New Netherland, Ac 627 

Resolution of the States-General thereupon, 628 

Letter of the States-General to the XIX. of the West India Company, 628 

Letter of the XIX. of the West India Company to the States-General, approving the proposed Colonie 

on the South river, 629 

Agreement of the West India Company and the City of Amsterdam respecting a Colonie in New 

Netherland, , 629 

Conditions offered to all those who are to go to New Netherland to settle on the South River 630 

Resolution of the States-General, referring the foregoing papers to a committee, Ac., 636 

Report of the committee of the States-General, recommending a ratification of the preceding conditions, 636 
Resolution of the States-General, ratifying and confirming the agreement and conditions made between 

the Amsterdam Chamber of the West India Company and the City of Amsterdam, <tc 637 

Memorial of Mr. van de Capelle to the States-General, asking for a commission for some proper person 

to be sent as commander by him to his Colonie on Staten Island, in New Netherland, 637 

Extract of a letter from Director Stuyvesant to Mr. van der Capelle, informing him of the destruction 

of his Colonic on Staten Island 639 

Commission issued by the States-General to the commander of the Island of Tobago, Ac, 639 

Resolution of the States-General, referring the foregoing papers to the Directors of the West India 

Company, Ac. , 640 



] xx CONTENTS. 

1656. Page. 

October 5. Extract from the proceedings of the XIX. of the West India Company, 640 

October 5. Resolution of the States-General upon the reply of the West India Company thereupon, <fce 641 

November 1. Report on garrisoning Fort Casimir on the South river, 641 

November 4. Resolution of the Common Council of Amsterdam, on the preceding report 642 

November 8. Estimated expense of sending a colony of 150 persons to the Delaware river 643 

November 11. Resolution of the Common Council of Amsterdam, authorizing a loan for the Colonie ou the South 

river, 645 

December 5. Commission of Captain Martyn Kryger to command a company at the Colonie on the South river, 

belonging to the City of Amsterdam 646 

December 5. Commission of Alexander d'Hinojossa to be lieutenant of the same 646 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS 



I— VIII. 



Resolutions respecting Sir Thomas Dale. 
Resolution of the States General. 

[From the Register of Resolutions of the States General in the Royal Archives at the Hague.] 

Friday the 1" August 1603. 
F0I10217. O q tne recommendation of the King of France, Captain Dale is commissioned 

captain Dale provisionally as Captain of the Infantry Company of Captain Condegrave, and 

the Secretary is ordered to issue a certificate thereof to him. 

Resolution of the States General. 

[ From the Register of Resolutions of the States General in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Monday the S ,b December 1603. 
Folio 889. On Captain Thomas Dale's Petition it is granted that his Commission be 

captain Dale. expedited, and the desired deduction made after every due attention shall be 
paid to his complaint regarding the Eight Soldiers who, he says, were absent through 
sickness, with his Excellency's knowledge at the mustering of the Company on the 21 s " of 
October last. 

Vol. I. 1 



2 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Resolution of the Council of State of the United Netherlands. 

[ From the original Register of Resolutions ol the Council of State, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Wednesday 24 th December 1603. 
TnomasDaie. On the Petition of Thomas Dale, an English Captain, this deduction is properly 
made, inasmuch as the monies received by him in the Army, were given him on account. 



Memorandum that Captains Dale and Gates were in garrison in Holland. 

[ From the Original List in the File intituled Loopend* of Novemb : and Decemb 1606. in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

From a list of the stations of the Dutch Garrisons on the 15th November, 1G06. 

From this List it most clearly appears that Thomas Dayl and S r Thomas Gaets were in 
garrison together on the 15 ,h November 1600 in the City of Oudewater, which is a small City 
in South Holland situate on the River Yssel. 

In this list we read as follows: — 

)mas Dayl 



j " Thor 
| S r Tho 



Oudewater Jr Thomag Gaets „ 



Resolution of the States General granting leave of absence to Sir Thomas Gates. 

[ From the Register of Resolutions of the Slates General, in the Royal Archives at the Ilague. ] 

Thursday, the 24 ,h April 1608. 
FoiioBr. On the petition of Sir Thomas Gates, Captain of a Company of English Soldiers, 

Captain Thomas r * . . , 

G»t«- commissioned by the King of Great Britain to command with three other 

gentlemen in the country of Virginia in colonizing the said countries, the Petitioner is, 
therefore, allowed to be absent from his company for the space of one year, on condition that 
he supply his company with good Officers and Soldiers for the public service. 



Resolution of the States General, granting leave of absence to Captain Dale. 

[ From the Register of Resolutions of the States General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Thursday, 20 lh January. 1611. 

Foiio2s. On the writing presented by the Honorable Rudolph Winwood, Ambassador 

from the King of Great Britain, it is ordered as follows: — 

captain D»ie. The States General of the United Netherlands hereby consent and allow, on 

the recommendation of his Highness the Prince of Wales, that Captain Thomas Dale (destined 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: I. 3 

by the King of Great Britain to be employed in Virginia in His Majestys Service) may absent 
himself from his company for the space of three years, and that his said company shall 
remain meanwhile vacant to be resumed by him if he think, proper. It is understood that his 
pay as Captain shall cease during his absence. 



Further Resolution of the States General respecting Captain Dale. 

[ From the Register of the Resolutions of the States General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Tuesday, the 25 ,h January, 1611. 
roiio 29. It i s considerred at the further instance of the Hon ble Rudolph Winwood, 

captainDaie. Ambassador of the King of Great Britain, whether Captain Thomas Dale should 

be allowed to receive the payment of his salary as captain for the term of three years during 
which he is allowed to be absent from his Company, in the service of his Royal Majesty of 
England, in Virginia; But it is resolved, in view of the very prejudicial consequences resulting 
therefrom to the State, that the aforesaid Captain Dale shall have to be content with what 
has been granted him on the recommendation of the aforesaid Ambassador on behalf of his 
Highness the Prince of Wales. 



Further Resolution of the States General. 

I From the Register of Resolutions of the States General in the Royal Archives at the Hagne. ] 

Wednesday, the 9 lh February, 1611. 
Foiio44. The Heer Joachimi reports that the Sir Winwood Ambassador of the King 

CaptainDaie f Great Britain, General Veer, Governor of Briel, and Conway his Lieutenant, 

have again very urgently recommended, on behalf of this Highness the Prince of Wales, the 
request of Captain Dale, proceeding for three years to Virginia, that his allowance as Captain 
may go on in the meanwhile. It is again resolved, that the aforesaid Captain shall have to 
be content with the resolution heretofore adopted in this case. 



Resolution of the Stales General respecting ships going on a Voyage of Discovery. 

[From the Register of the Resolutions of the States General in the Royal Archives at the Hague.] 

Monday, the 21. February, 1611. 

Foiioos. Received and read a letter from the Commissioners of the Admiralty at 

wvEryS'theHorth Amsterdam, dated the 19 th Inst, wherein they advise that the Ships destined to 

pa,sage ' look for a Northern passage to China, are so nearly ready for the voyage that they 

are beginning to embark their crew. Requesting, inasmuch as it is important that the aforesaid 



4 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Ships should be provided with Letters from the Lords States General or His Excellency to the 
Princes or Kings of the countries at which they may arrive, written in such languages and 
characters as may be most useful, that their High Mightinesses would be pleased to have a 
draft made of such letters as their High Mightinesses shall think proper to give them, together 
with proper Commissions for the captains who will be in command ; leaving the names of these 
Theshi the Lutie in blank; the Ships being called the Little Fox and the Little Crane. 
Vox - After deliberation it is ordered, that the required Letters be drawn up, and the 

draft sent to the aforesaid Commissioners, to have it translated in such languages, as they 
shall consider necessary: And it is further resolved that his Excellency be requested to issue 
as High Admiral the aforesaid Commissions for the Captains. 



Resolution on a Petition relative to a neioly discovered Navigation. 

Copy of a Resolution of the States of Holland and Westvriesland, dated 7 lh 
Septemb. 1611. 



Petition of divers The Petition presented by divers Merchants and Inhabitants, residing in the 
toJto^roncSntog United Provinces, to this Assembly regarding certain newly discovered Navigation, 
covered NavigatioD" being read, the cities Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Hoorn and Enckhuysen request 
copy, which is delivered them, to communicate it to their constituents. 



Resolution in favor of those who discover New Countries. 

Copy of a Resolution of the States of Holland and Westvriesland dated 20 th 
March 1614. 

Relative to the Re- On the Remonstrance of divers Merchants wishing to discover New unknown 
w'rs t""^ to look Ri vers, Countries and Places not sought for (nor resorted to) heretofore from these 

for New unknown r . , ... . i i i , /~\ t* 

places of Trade, parts, it is, alter previous mature deliberation, resolved that the Generality 

Lands <fc Couutries 

not hitherto ex- shall accord and grant, that whoever shall resort to and discover such new 

plored or reBorted to ° 

irom this country. L anf j s anc [ places, shall alone be privileged to make four Voyages to such 
Lands and Places from these Countries, exclusive of every other person, until the aforesaid 
four Voyages shall have been completed ; it being well understood, that on the return of the 
first discovery or exploration, a pertinent Report shall be rendered to the Lords States General, 
in order that their High Mightinesses may then order and determine, according to the distance 
and circumstances of the Countries or Places, within what time the aforesaid four voyages must 
be concluded ; and also with this understanding, that whosoever shall find, discover and explore 
the same Countries and Places about the same time or season, shall be admitted, at the 
discretion and on the decision of the Lords States General, to prosecute the aforesaid voyages 
in company ; provided also that this concession shall not prejudice previous concessions 
or grants. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: I. 5 

Resolution of the States General respecting neioly discovered Countries. 

[From the Register of the Resolutions of the States General in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Thursday the 27 lh March 1G14. 
roiio 33. Read the petition of divers Traders, inhabitants of the United Provinces, requesting 
liberty freely to make use of, for the first six Voyages, the passages, countries and islands, as 
yet undiscovered or unfrequented, and which shall through God's Mercy and help be discovered 
by them ; without any other person, except the Petitioners, having power to sail or resort thither 
from these United Provinces, either directly or indirectly before and until, they, the Petitioners, 
shall have fully completed and finished the aforesaid six Voyages, etc. 

After deliberation it is resolved and concluded, that this solicited charter or concession 
shall be, as it is hereby, granted to the Petitioners, for four voyages, on condition that the 
Petitioners having completed the first voyage, shall render a pertinent report to their High 
Mightinesses of their progress and discovery, in order that their High Mightinesses may then 
adjudge and declare in what time the four voyages shall be made. On condition also, that this 
concession shall not prejudice other their High Mightinesses' previous charters and concessions ; 
and provided, in case two or more Companies shall find out such lands or passage in one year, 
they shall then enjoy this benefit and privilege in common. And in case any difference hereupon, 
or otherwise, should occur, the same shall be left to the decision of their High Mightinesses. 

Those of Zealand declare, that they intend to refer this matter to their principals. 



General Cliarter for those who Discover any New Passages, Havens, Countries 

or Places. 

,[ From the Acl Book of the States General in the Royal Archives at the Hague.] 

Folio 54. The States General of the United Netherlands. To all those who shall see 

these presents or hear them read, Greeting. Be it Known, Whereas We understand it would 
be honorable, serviceable and profitable to this Country, and for the promotion of its prosperity, 
as well as for the maintenance of seafaring people, that the good Inhabitants should be excited 
and encouraged to employ and occupy themselves in seeking out and discovering Passages, 
Havens, Countries and places that have not before now been discovered nor frequented ; and 
being informed by some Traders that they intend, with God's merciful help, by diligence, labor, 
danger and expence, to employ themselves thereat, as they expect to derive a handsome profit 
therefrom, if it pleased Us to privilege, charter and favor them, that they alone might resort 
and sail to and frequent the passages, havens, countries and places to be by them newly found 
and discovered, for six voyages as a compensation for their outlays, trouble and risk, with 
interdiction to all, directly or indirectly to resort or sail to, or frequent the said passages, 
havens, countries or places, before and until the first discoverers and finders thereof shall 
have completed the aforesaid six voyages : Therefore, We having duly weighed the aforesaid 
matter and finding, as hereinbefore stated, the said undertaking to be laudable, honorable and 



6 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCPIPTS. 

serviceable for the prosperity of the United Provinces, And wishing that the experiment be free 
and open to all and every of the Inhabitants of this country, have invited and do hereby 
invite, all and every of the Inhabitants of the United Netherlands to the aforesaid search, and, 
therefore, have granted and consented, grant and consent hereby that whosoever any new 
Passages, Havens, Countries or Places shall from now henceforward discover, shall alone resort 
to the same or cause them to be frequented for four voyages, without any other person directly 
or indirectly sailing, frequenting or resorting, from the United Netherlands, to the said newly 
discovered and found passages, havens, countries or places, until the first discoverer and finder 
shall have made, or cause to be made the said four voyages, on pain of confiscation of the 
goods and ships wherewith the contrary attempt shall be made, and a fine of Fifty thousand 
Netherlands Ducats, to the profit of the aforesaid finder or discoverer. Well understanding 
that the discover, on completion of the first voyage, shall be holden within fourteen days after 
his return from said Voyage, to render unto Us a pertinent Report of the aforesaid discoveries 
and adventures, in order, on hearing thereof We may adjudge and declare, according to 
circumstances and distance, within what time the aforesaid four voyages must be completed. 
Provided that We do not understand to prejudice hereby or in any way to diminish our former 
Charters and Concessions : And, if one or more Companies find and discover, in or about one 
time or one year, such new Passages, Countries, havens or Places, the same shall conjointly 
enjoy this Our Grant and Privilege; and in case any differences or questions concerning these, 
or otherwise should arise or occur from this our Concession, the same shall be decided by Us, 
whereby each shall have to regulate himself. And in order that this Our Concession shall be 
made known equally to all, We have ordered that these be published and affixed at the usual 
places in the United Countries. Thus done at the Assembly of the Lords States General at the 
Hague the XXVH ,h of March XVI C and fourteen. Was parapheered — J. van Oldenbarnevelt". 
Under stood — By order of the Lords States General, 

Signed, C. Aerssen. 



-^->t ■»».«. 



Organization of a Company to Trade in America, &c, proposed. 

Copy of a Resolution of the States of Holland and Westvriesland dated I8 ,h 
July 1G14. 

SSSSSmSJ^: ° n the Remonstr ance presented on the part of divers Traders of this country 
^° n Meroi^ tU o'f for the formation of a general Company for the promotion of the Commerce, 
iemingX'tremion Navigation and Interest of the Country, to carry on Trade on some Coasts of 

of a Company t*i » p ■ J a * 1 

tr»de and navigate Atnca and America where the same may be prosecuted according to the Truce, 

to tho Countries of - __ * r o J 

Africa and America, some from Dordrecht, Delft, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Hoorn and Enckhuyzen are 
appointed to examine the Remonstrance, to hear those who have sent it in, and the 
circumstances being well considered and deliberated on, to render a Report to the Assembly 

Which done, and the project being considered laudable and advantageous for the Country 
and Inhabitants, It is ordered that the matter be promoted in the General Assembly of the 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: I. 7 

States, in a Memorial from some thoroughly versed in the subject, on behalf of the Provinces 
of Holland and Westfriesland. 



— ..♦..— 



Resolution of the States General on the 'proposed formation of a Commercial Company. 

[ From the EegiBter of Resolutions of the States General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Monday, 21. June 1614. 

Divers Traders. Read a Remonstrance of divers Traders of these Provinces in substance for the 

formation and erection in this country of a general Company for the West Indies, the coast 
we« p indiei AfricS °^ Africa and through the Strait of Magellan, without prejudice to the East India 
Magellan. Sir *" f Company or infraction of the Truce: Resolved, that the deputies present do 
advise with the principals on the aforesaid Remonstrance, in order that they may, on this day 
four weeks, send some of their Merchants hither, with whom their High Mightinesses may 
thoroughly examine the matter contained in the aforesaid Remonstrance. 



Resolution of the States General on the proposed formation of a West India Company. 

[ From the Register of the Resolutions of the States General in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Monday, 25 ,b August, 1614. 
Folio 229. Resolved, That the business of forming a General West India Company shall 

Erection of theWest 

India company. De undertaken tomorrow morning; moreover, that to this meeting may come 
those deputed from the Provinces, those who will request to promote this work, those who 
act on orders, as well those who appear and have seats in the Assembly and at Extraordinary 
Meetings of other Chambers, and at the meeting of their High Mightinesses. Aud for this 
And for this business are deputed Nicasius Kien and Wilhem Eusselincx. 



Further Resolutions concerning the formation of a West India Company. 

[ From the Register of Resolutions of the Slates General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague ] 

Tuesday, 2 nd September 1614. 
Foiio 237. Resolved, that the affair of the West India Company shall be continued 

Erection of the W. r J 

i. comp. this afternoon. 



8 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Copy of a Resolution of the States of Holland and West Friesland dated 25 th 
August — 27 lh Septemb r 1014. 

mncemins the ibi- In the matter of the plan for the erection of a General Company to navigate 
w«t iodiI oompa- and trade on some coasts of Africa, Terra Australis, America and elsewhere, 

nv lo Davlgate and . _ 

irarieiosomeoauta a ] so the Charter for said Company, some were anew appointed Irom the Lords 

ol Alrica Terra Alls- » " Ll 

trail-, America Ac, an( j cities, to communicate on and further discuss the subject, to examine the 
draft of a Charter and its consequences, and to render a report of the whole to the meeting; 
and they having first reported, that it was necessary for the promotion of the affair that the 
States General should pass an Act including the Trade to Guinea in the aforesaid Charter, 
the said Act is finally drawn up and concluded, as follows : — 

" The States General of the United Netherlands having understood the difficulty 
A«-t appertaining ° J 

suggested on the paragraph of the draft of a General Company for the Coasts 
of Africa and America where Trade and Navigation are free by the Truce — to wit, that 
it was feared that some may secretly endeavor under that cover to pursue trade to Guinea, 
with a General Company, and that it was desired to retain and continue to prosecute this, 
notwithstanding the Company and Trade should not prosper in the open parts of America, 
either because through some defect or impediment, it may not have been included, or being 
included, it may happen to cease through want of good success and profits, or some other causes. 
" Therefore, We being desirous to afford sufficient security thereto, as we have proceeded 
herein only uprightly, sincerely and in good faith, did and do Declare hereby, that Our intention 
was none other than to proceed in good faith, and by means of the aforesaid General Company 
earnestly and zealously to cause Navigation and Commerce to be undertaken as well to the 
West Indies and the Coasts of Africa as to Guinea; consequently that the Charter which 
this General Company will obtain in this regard, shall not convey any power or clause to 
enable any person to take advantage thereof against others, in case Trade shall not be 
speedily undertaken and prosecuted by said Company as well in the other various Quarters as 
on the Guinea coasts, or in case the Trade to the other Countries should, through any 
impediment, by want of profit or through any other cause, happen to fail, be interrupted or 
cease ; but that in such case and then, the Guinea Trade shall be again free, common and open 
to every one as it has been to this day in every respect, as if no Charter had been granted ; 
And in order that those at present trading to Guinea may not be injured, it is our meaning, that 
those who have gone, or have been sent, to the Coasts of Guinea from this or other countries 
previous to the date hereof, or who shall proceed there within the present year 1614, shall 
continue their Trade to the sale of their goods and to their return to this country and no 
longer, provided that after the 1 January 1615, no person shall have liberty to send out any 
ships and goods; Nevertheless, however, in case the sum of four, five or six Millions of guilders 
shall not be subscribed in the year 1615, by this General Company, before the 1st May, 
the Traders to Guinea shall have power to send out their ships for that year, and to continue 
trading until the aforesaid Capital or such Capital, as his Excellency [Prince Maurice] and 
the Lords States General shall declare sufficient to effectually put this project into operation, 
shall be subscribed, and until the sale of their goods. And for assurance of the aforesaid, We 
have have granted Our Acte to serve as may be necessary." 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS : I. 9 

Resumption of the The resumption of the enacted Charter is further proceeded with, and some 
enacted charter. difficulties are removed in the distribution of the Directors and Equipment 
among the Provinces, Quarters and Cities ; in the order of the Salt-traders; the Limits on this 
side and through the Strait of Magellan, and the difficulties started thereupon by the East 
India Company, with whose Deputies communication has been had by Deputies on the part 
of the Lords States General ; and it is agreed in full Meeting, that this Matter should be 
examined at the first Meeting of the Seventeen Deputies, and for that and other considerations, 
the aforesaid business is holden for further deliberation and postponed. 



Date 19 August ) 



King James I. to the States General. 

[ From the Original in Royal Archives at the Hague ; File entitled Engeland, ] 



Rec d 30 Septemb r 

High and Mighty Lords, Our good friends and allies ! 

We cannot but acknowledge the favor, which through regard for Us, you have done to Sir 
Thomas Dale, Marshal of Virginia, by permitting him to absent himself for some time from 
your Service, to which he should have already returned, had not all of that Colony, where he 
has right worthily comported himself, perceiving the necessity of his remaining among them, 
to settle and give stability to that enterprize, supplicated Us to interpose again with you, 
and to request you to permit his absence for two or three years more, in order that he may 
complete the work, so well begun ; which, by his recal, cannot but run great risk of miscarriage. 
This We have right willingly undertaken for so good an object, and doubt not but you will 
consent with like promptness, not only in this case, but in all that depends on you for the 
advancement of so laudable an undertaking; the success of which, as in all probability it 
will be productive of advantage to our Realms, will, in like manner, not fail to communicate 
the like to your Provinces. Therefore We remain 

Your very affectionate Friend 
From Our Court at (signed) James R. 

Leicester, the 19 ,h of Aug" 1614 

(The Address.) 

To the High and Mighty Lords, 

The States General of the United Netherland Provinces. 



Resolution of the States General on the preceding Letter. 

[ From the Register of the Resolutions of the States General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Tuesday, the last of September 1614. 

Folio 263. D , . 

Great Britain. Keceived and read a Letter from the King of Great Britain, dated at Leicester 

capm Dale. the 19 lh of August Old Style, in favor of Captain Sir Thomas Dale, Marshal of 

Vol. I. o 



1Q NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Virginia, to the effect that their High Mightinesses would please to give leave of Absence to 
the said Captain for two or three years more, in order that he may continue his residence in 
Virginia meanwhile, to bring affairs there into thorough security, for which he has laid good 
foundation, and commencement. After deliberation, and on the aforesaid high recommendation 
by his Majesty and the aforesaid Ambassador, their High Mightinesses have agreed and 
consented that the said Captain may continue his residence in Virginia, on the previous footing, 
until it shall be otherwise ordered by their High Mightinesses. 



Resolution of the States General on the Report of the Discovery of New Netherland. 

[ From the Register of the Resolutions of the States General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Present — President, Mr. Ghiessen. 

Mess" Biesman, Westerholt, Brienen, Oldenbernevelt, Berckenrode, Driel, 
Teylingen, Magnus, Moesbergen, Ayloa, Hegemans. 

Saturday the ll ,b October, 1614. 

Folio 2«8. Appeared at the Assembly the Deputies from the United Company of Merchants 

New Nethenand. w ho have discovered and found New Netherland, situate in America between 
New France and Virginia, the sea coasts whereof lie in the Latitude of forty to forty five 
degrees. And who have rendered a Report of their said Discovery and finding, requesting, in 
consequence, the Grant promised by their High Mightinesses' published placard. Deliberation 
beiner had thereon, their High Mightinesses have granted and allowed, and 

Grant to the Mer- ° DO , , , 

chants or the New h ere by grant and allow, the Petitioners that they alone shall have the right to 

Netherland Com- J a 7 J o 

P un)f - resort to, or cause to be frequented, the aforesaid newly discovered countries 

situate in America between New France and Virginia, the sea coasts whereof lie in the 
Latitude of from forty to forty five degrees, now named New Netherland, as is to be seen by 
a Figurative Map hereunto annexed ; and that for four Voyages within the term of three 
years commencing the first January XVI C and fifteen next coming, or sooner, to the exclusion 
of all others, either directly or indirectly sailing, resorting to, or frequenting the said Newly 
discovered and found Countries, harbors or places, from these United Netherlands, within the 
said three years, on pain of Confiscation of the ships and goods wherewith the attempt shall 
be made contrary hereunto, and a fine of Fifty thousand Netherland Ducats for the benefit of 
the aforesaid discoverers or finders; provided, that their High Migbtinesses do not hereby 
intend any prejudice or diminution to their previous Charters and Concessions; And their 
meaning also is, that in case any difference or misunderstanding happen to arise or proceed 
from this their Concession, the same shall then be decided by them. Therefore, they order 
and command &c. 



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HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: I. 11 

Grant of Exclusive Trade to New Netherlands 

[ From th6 Minute on a half sheet of papery in the Royal Archieres in the Hague ; File, Loopemie. ] 

The States General of the United Netherlands to all to whom these presents shall come, 
Greeting. Whereas Gerrit Jacobz Witssen, antient Burgomaster of the City Amsterdam, 
Jonas Witssen, Simon Morrissen, owners of the Ship named the Little Fox whereof Jan de 
With has been Skipper; Hans Hongers, Paulus Pelgrom, Lambrecht van Tweenbuyzen, 
owners of the two ships named the Tiger and the Fortune, whereof Aedriaen Block and 
Henrick Corstiaenssen were Skippers; Arnolt van Lybergen, Wessel Schenck, Hans Claessen 
and Berent Sweertssen, owners of the Ship named the Nightingale, whereof Thys Volckertssen 
was Skipper, Merchants of the aforesaid City Amstelredam, and Pieter Clementssen Brouwer, 
Jan Clementssen Kies, and Cornells Volckertssen, Merchants of the City of Hoorn, owners of 
the Ship named the Fortuyn, whereof Cornells Jacobssen May was Skipper, all now associated 
in one Company, have respectfully represented to us, that they, the petitioners, after great 
expenses and damages by loss of ships aud other dangers, had, during the present year, 
discovered and found with the above named five ships, certain New Lands situate in America, 
between New France and Virginia, the Sea coasts whereof lie between forty and forty five 
degrees of Latitude, and now called New Netherland: And whereas We did, in the month of 
March last, for the promotion and increase of Commerce, cause to be published a certain 
General Consent and Charter setting forth, that whosoever should thereafter discover new 
bavens, lands, places or passages, might frequent, or cause to be frequented, for four voyages, such 
newly discovered and found places, passages, havens, or lands, to the exclusion of all others from 
visiting or frequenting the same from the United Netherlands, until the said first discoverers 
and finders shall, themselves, have completed the said four Voyages, or caused the same to be 
done within the time prescribed for that purpose, under the penalties expressed in the said 
Octroy &c. they request that we would accord to them due Act of the aforesaid Octroy in the 
usual form : 

Which being considered, We, therefore, in Our Assembly having heard the pertinent Report 
of the Petitioners, relative to the discoveries and finding of the said new Countries between 
the above named limits and degrees, and also of their adventures, have consented and granted, 
and by these presents do consent and grant, to the said Petitioners now united into one 
Company, that they shall be privileged exclusively to frequent or cause to be visited, the 
above newly discovered lands, situate in America between New France and Virginia, whereof 
the Sea coasts lie between the fortieth and forty fifth degrees of Latitude, now named New 
Netherland, as can be seen by a Figurative Map hereunto annexed, and that for four Voyages 
within the term of three Years, commencing the first of January, Sixteen hundred and fifteen 
next ensuing, or sooner, without it being permitted to any other person from the United 
Netherlands, to sail to, navigate or frequent the said newly discovered lands, havens or places, 
either directly or indirectly, within the said three Years, on pain of Confiscation of the vessel 
and Cargo wherewith infraction hereof shall be attempted, and a fine of Fifty thousand 
Netherland Ducats for the benefit of said discoverers or finders; provided, nevertheless, that 
by these presents We do not intend to prejudice or diminish any of our former grants or 
Charters; And it is also Our intention, that if any disputes or differences arise from these Our 
Concessions, they shall be decided by Ourselves. 



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NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 



We therefore expressly command all Governors, Justices, Officers, Magistrates and 
inhabitants of the aforesaid United Countries, that they allow the said Company peaceably 
and quietly to enjoy the whole benefit of this Our grant and consent, ceasing all contradictions 
and obstacles to the contrary. For such we have found to appertain to the pubi.v, service. 
Given under Our Seal, paraph and signature of our Secretary at the Hague the xi lh 
of October 1614. 



<,■»■.— 



Charter for divers Traders who have discovered certain New Countries. 

Uth October, 1614. 

[ From the Act Book of the States General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague.] 
[ This being a Duplicate of the Document immediately preceding, is omitted. — Ed. ] 



Resolution of the States General on a Report of further Discoveries in New Netherland. 

[ From the Register of Resolutions of the State* General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Thursday, the lS ,h August 1616. 
F0110201. Cornells Henricxs 5 , Skipper, appears before the Assembly, assisted by Notary 

Carel van Geldre, on the behalf of Gerrit Jacob Witssen, Burgomaster at Amsterdam, 
Jonas Witssen, Lambrecht van Tweenhuyzen, Paulus Pelgrom cum suis, Directors of New 
New Netherland. Netherland, extending from forty to five and forty degrees, situate in America 
between New France and Virginia, rendering a Report of the second Voyage, of the manner 
in which the aforesaid Skipper hath found and discovered a certain country, bay and three 
rivers, lying between the thirty eighth and the fortieth degree of Latitude (as is more fully to 
be seen by the Figurative Map;) in a small Yacht of about eight Lasts, named the Onrust 
(Restless.) Which little yacht they caused to be built in the aforesaid Country, where 
they employed the said Skipper in looking for new countries, havens, bays, rivers, &c. 
Requesting the privilege to trade exclusively to the aforesaid countries for the term of four 
years, according to their High Mightinesses' placard issued in March 1614. It is resolved, 
before determining herein, that the Comparants shall be ordered to render and transmit in 
writing the Report they have made. 






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HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: I. 13 

Memorial of Gerrit Jacobsen Wit-sen and others. Read \%th August, 1616. 

[ From the Original in the Eoyal Archives at the Hague, In the Loketkas of the States General ; attached to a Parchment Map of New Netherland 

Letter K., No. 23. ] 

To the High and Mighty Lords, the Lords States General &c. 

Respectfully represent Gerrit Jacob Witsen Burgomaster at Amsterdam, Jonas Witsen, 
Lambrecht van Tweenhuyzen, Paulus Pelgrom cum sociis, Directors of New Netherland, 
extending from 40 to 45 degrees, situate in America between New France and Virginia, that 
they have, at great and excessive expence, discovered and found a certain country, bay and 
three rivers situate in the Latitude of from 3S to 40 degrees, (as is more fully to be seen by 
the Figurative Map hereunto annexed) in a small Yacht of about eight Lasts burthen, called the 
Restless, whereof Cornelis Henricksz" of Munnickendam is Skipper — Which little yacht they, 
the Petitioners, caused to be built in the country there, and employed the aforesaid Cornelis 
Hendricksz" in the aforesaid Countries during the space of three years, in the above mentioned 
little Yacht, looking for new countries, havens, bays and rivers. And whereas Your High and 
Mighty Lordships, did in March 1614, publish by Placard, that whosoever should discover any 
new countries, bays or rivers, the said finders and discoverers should enjoy for their discovery, 
the grants to trade and traffic exclusively for four Voyages to the aforesaid countries, on 
condition of making a Report thereof to Your High Mightinesses ; Therefore Your Petitioners 
turn to Your High Mightinesses, respectfully praying and requesting that You, High and 
Mighty Lords, may be pleased to hear the aforesaid Cornelis Hendrickxzen's Report, and to 
examine the aforesaid Map and Discovery, and to grant the Petitioners accordingly Charter of 
the exclusive trade to the aforesaid Countries, for the term of four years, according to the 
accompanying Placard [of the 27 th March 1614.] 

Which doing etc. 

(Endorsed) Petition of Gerrit Jacob Witsen, Burgomaster at Amsterdam, 
Jonas Witsen, Lambrecht van Tweenhuyzen, Paulus Pelgrom 
cum sociis, Directors of New Netherland, etc. 1616. 



Captain Hendrichsen's Report of his Discoveries in New Netherland. 

[ From the Original in the Royal Archives at the Hague ; File entitled Loopende. ] 

Report of Captain Cornelis Hendricxz 11 of Munnickendam to the High and 
Mighty Lords States General of the Free, United Netherland Provinces, 
made on the xviii th August A" J 616., of the countries, bay and three rivers 
situate in the Latitude from 3S to 40 degrees, by him discovered and 
found for and to the behoof of his Owners and Directors of New Netherland, 
by name Gerrit Jacob Witsen Burgomaster at Amsterdam, Jonas Witsen, 
Lambrecht van Tweenhuyzen, Paulus Pelgrom and others of their Company. 

First, he hath discovered for his aforesaid Masters and Directors, certain lands, a bay and 
three rivers situate between 38 and 40 degrees. 






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14 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

And did there trade with the Inhabitants; said trade consisting of Sables, Furs, Robes and 

other skins. 

He hath found the said Country full of trees, to wit: — Oaks, hickory and pines; which 

trees were, in some places, covered with vines. 

He hath seen, in the said country, Bucks and does, turkeys and partridges. 

He hath found the climate of the said Country very temperate, judging it to be as temperate 
as that of this country, Holland. 

He also traded for, and bought from the inhabitants, the Minquaes, three persons, being 
people belonging to this Company; which three persons were employed in the service of the 
Mohawks and Machicans ; giving for them kettles, beads and merchandize. 

Read August 19, 1616. 



Resolution of the States General on the preceding Report. 

[ From the Register of the Resolutions of the States General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Friday the 19 ,h August, 1616. 
For.»203. Read the Report rendered in writing by Captain Cornells Hendricksz. of 

Munnickendam, of the countries, bay and three rivers situate between 38 and 40 degrees 
of Latitude, by him found and discovered for and to the behoof of his Owners and Directors of 
New Netheriand. New Netherland, etc. Resolved, to make note thereof; then respecting the further 
request of a continuation of the Charter, the consideration thereof is postponed. 



Resolution of the States General on the Petition of Gerrit J. Witsen and others. 

[From the Register of the Resolutions of the States General, in the Royal Archives of the Hague.] 

Monday, the 12. September 1616. 
Folio 2i6. Read the Petition of Gerrit Jacob Witsen, antient Burgomaster of the City 

Amsterdam, Jonas Witsen, Lambrecht van Tweenhuyzen and Paulus Pelgrom cum sociis, 
Directors of the Company of New Netherland, requesting a Charter for 

Directors of New r J to 

Netheriand. themselves, of the exclusive trade to those Lands from this country for four 

years, under the pains and penalties expressed in the aforesaid General Placard, but no final 
disposition was made thereof. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS : I. 15 

Further Resolution of the States General on the Petition of Mr. Witsen. 

[ From the Register of Resolutions of the States General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Thursday, the 3 d of November 1616. 
Folio 272. Read the Petition of Gerrit Jacob Wittsen Burgomaster at Amsterdam, Jonas 

Wittsen, Lambrecht van Tweenhuysen, Pauwels Pelgrom and partners. Requesting, in as 
New Netheriand. much as they have discovered by their Skipper Cornelis Henricxsen van 
cou C nWe». of< ' ,m Monnickendam, with a yacht of about Eight lasts, certain countries situate in 
Latitude thirty eight to forty degrees, between New France and Virginia, adjoining the 
country heretofore discovered by the Petitioners and by them called New Netherland, etc., that 
their High Mightinesses would be pleased to grant them the Charter they demand. But the 
disposal thereof is again postponed. 



Resolution of the States General on the petition of L. van Tweenhuyzen and others. 

[From the Register of Resolutions of the States General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague.] 

Wednesday, 18 th January 1617. 
Folio u. , . 

Divers Merchants. Read the Petition of Lambert van Tweenhuyzen, Jacques Nicquet, Claes Jacobse 

Harencarspel, Pieter Evertse Hulft, and company, Merchants and Burghers of Amsterdam, 

requesting to be assisted by the State with a ship of war to realize some profit and advantage 

Terra Nova. in the celebrated and useful trade and fishery of Terra Nova; but the disposal 

thereof was postponed. 



Interdict to print and publish a Journal of Voyages. 
Resolution of the States of Holland and Westfriesland, dated 29 tb July, 1617. 
wiiiemjansz.atihe On the petition of the Directors of the Australian Company, it is ordered, and 

Water siile in Am- *■ r J ' ' 

eTirnm sVuin- J up a ,etter is written to Willem Jansz. residing on the Water side at Amsterdam, 
££?M»pfte!onhe to interdict him from proceeding any further with the composition and printing 
AudLraTiao Compa- of the Journals, Maps and Charts of the Voyage lately made on the part of the 

ny Irnm the North _ . , J ° J r 

into the south sea. aloresaid Company, from the North into the South Sea, but that he send over all 
the pieces, with declaration from whose hands he hath received them, or come over himself 
here with them, without leaving any of them behind or retaining them, on pain of other 
proceedings against his person. 



16 NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Interdict to correct existing Maps. 
Resolution of the States of Holland and Westfriesland, dated 2 nd August, 1617. 

Map or the South- Having seen the Answer of the Directors of the Australian or South Company 

erri passage forbid- . . _ ...... T _, _ _ 

den. to the writing of VVulem Jansz. regarding what he proposes to correct on the 

New Passage. Globe and to publish in the Map in relation to the new found Channel, Strait or 
Passage from the North into the South Sea; it is Resolved thereupon to notify the aforesaid 
Willem Jansz., that he shall not presume to correct the Globe, or the printed or written 
Map, nor in any other manner to publish or cause to be published the aforesaid discovered 
Strait, Water, Countries, Islands, or Coasts discovered there, but to keep himself strictly and 
specially holden as interdicted, as such is considered for the Public good; on pain of other 
proceedings being taken, as may be proper, against him, according as shall be determined 
against one who contemns the Supreme Authority's Commands and hath incurred its indignation. 



Address of Sir Dudley Carleton to the States General. 

[ From the Original In the Eoyal Archives at the Hague; File entitled Engeland.] 

Messieurs! 

I have express Orders from the King my Master, to accompany the petition I hold here ready 
to present to Your Lordships, with his Majesty's serious recommendations; the petition is 
exhibited by Captain Thomas Dale, an English Knight, who having a Company of foot in 
Your Lordships' service, absented himself with Your permission granted at the instance of 
Henry, late Prince of Wales, of glorious memory, for the space of some years, having command 
and authority for planting a Colony of the English Nation in the Country of Virginia, whereof 
he hath acquitted himself with reputation and honor to himself, to his Majesty's satisfaction 
and to the publick advantage, in as much as by signal patience, diligence and valor, he 
overcame divers serious difficulties and dangers and finally established a good and permanent 
settlement all along a river navigable for seventy leagues into the interior ; and by that means 
bath preserved it to God, by the exercise of Religion which is introduced there, and to Man, 
by the augmentation of Commerce. 

Several of the nation, as well Lords as other Gentlemen of quality and honor, have 
considerably contributed to this design. But two of our Captains (Sir Thomas Gates and this 
one of whom I now speak,) have promoted it more than any other. 

Chevalier Gates found by the hearty welcome he experienced from Your Lordships on his 
return, by the present you made him of the entire amount of his pay during his absence, that 
his duties were agreeable to you. 

Your Lordships, on the testimony his Majesty bears of Chevalier Dale's good demeanor on 
that occasion, and on the recommendation He makes in his behalf, will, if it please You, be 
happy to receive his petition and, for the reasons it contains, do him the same favor. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: I. 17 

Which his Majesty will take in very good part, as done out of respect for him, and will 
acknowledge with like regard all that will be recommended to him on Your side. 

Presented in the Assembly of the States General of the United Provinces, on the 
26 th day of January 161S. 

(Signed) Dudley Carleton. 



M. Noel de Carcn to the States General. 

[ From the Original in the Eoyal Archives at the Hague ; File entitled Engetmid. ] 

High and Mighty, Potent, Noble and right Discreet Lords. 

My Lords, 

Sir Thomas Dale has stated to me that he was permitted about five or six years ago by your 
Mightinesses to proceed to Virginia, and had gone thither. He has returned here about a 
year ago : but, as he represents, has since been very sick and feeble, so that he could not 
before now present himself to Your Mightinesses. He requests my letters to you, High and 
Mighty, and says he carries with him letters from his Majesty also, to Ambassador Carleton- 
He likewise says, he has been long in the public service ; so that I consider Your Mightinesses 
should please to entertain the matter, inasmuch as his voyage was undertaken with Your 
Mightinesses' Consent and Knowledge for the space of five years, as he says. And, although I 
know his Majesty's letters are fully sufficient to promote his recommendation, yet being 
solicited by the Earl of Southampton and him, I could not refuse to accede to his Lordship's 
and his own request, well knowing that whatever is reasonable and just will be done therein. 
And so these serve no other purpose. I shall pray God 

High, Mighty, Potent, Noble, Wise and right Discreet Lords, to maintain You in a prosperous 
government. 

Your High and Mighty Lordships' 

From South Lambeth Humble and obedient Servant, 

the ii. December 1617. Old Style. (Signed) Noel de Caron. 

Rec. 26 January 1618. 



Petition of Sir Thomas Dale, and the Order thereupon. 

[ From the Original in the Royal Archives at the Hague ; File entitled Loopende. ] 

To the Noble, High and Mighty Lords, the Lords the States General of the United Netherlands. 

& Thomas Dad, Knight, Captain of a Company in Your High Mightinesses' service, most 
respectfully represents — That he, the Petitioner, having served this country about thirty 
Vol. I. 3 



18 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

years, first as a Soldier and last as Captain, Henry Prince of Wales of glorious Memory, wrote 
some years ago both to Your High Mightinesses and to Ambassador Winwood, 1 to obtain leave 
of absence for the petitioner, which having obtained from Your High Mightinesses, he sailed, 
with Commission from the Most Noble Prince, to Virginia in the West Indies, to introduce and 
plant there the Christian Religion and God's Word, also to establish a firm market there for 
the benefit and increase of trade, he, the petitioner, leaving here his Company which he 
received when burdened with great debts and expenses, and departed in the firm confidence 
that he might pay some of those debts with his allowance during his absence. But the petitioner 
having continued some time in Virginia, in his aforesaid employment, intending to return 
here again to his service, the Most Noble Prince came to die. Whereupon his Royal Majesty 
himself, noting the petitioner's faithful duty performed in the aforesaid Country for the 
propagation of God's Word and the promotion of trade, wrote repeatedly to him, commanding 
that he should continue in his undertaken work until the last year, sixteen hundred and 
seventeen, when he, the petitioner, was first released with his Royal Majesty's consent, from 
his charge, and immediately repaired hither with letters of recommendation from his Royal 
Majesty to his Ambassador here, to be aiding to the petitioner in his request to your High 
Mightinesses. In conformity whereunto, the petitioner finding his Company still under the 
burden of the above named heavy debts, with which he first received it, and had at his departure 
left it, hereby turns to Your High Mightinesses, confidently requesting that, in your bounty, 
you would be pleased to make good his ordinary monthly allowance for the period of his 
absence, and grant him an Order for his pay, so that he may thereby have the means to relieve 
himself, at once, of his great indebtedness here, and to continue as a faithful Servant in Your 
High Mightinesses Service. 

(Signed) Thomas Dale. 

( At the side was:) 
Let this petition with the annexed recommendation of his Majesty the King of Great Britan's 
Ambassador, made by his Majesty's order, be placed in the hands of the Council of State, to 
communicate their advice thereupon to their High Mightinesses, in order to, etc. 
Done the xxvi January, 1618. 

( Signed ) C : Aerssens. 
1618. 

( And further. ) 
The States General of the United Netherlands. Having heard the advice of the Council of 
State on the petitioner's request, contained in this petition, and having paid attention principally 
to the recommendation of Sir Carleton, the King of Great Britain's Ambassador, made by his 
Majesty's Order and presented in writing to their High Mightinesses; their High Mightinesses 
have granted and hereby do grant (without the same being drawn into precedent), that the 
petitioner shall be remunerated by the indemnity and payment of the half of his wages during 

1 Sir Ralph Winwood was born about the year 15G5, in Northamptonshire, and studied at Oxford. He was Ambassador 
successively to France and Holland, and Secretary of State from 1614 to his death in 1617. Memorials' of Affairs of State in 
the Reigns of Elizabeth and James I, collected principally from his papers, have been published, in S volumes, folio, in 
\12b, by Edmund Sawyer, Esq. — Ed. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: I. 19 

the time of his absence, to wit, seven years, the resolution at the time of his leave of absence 
to the contrary notwithstanding. Done the vi. of February lGlS. 
By Order of the aforesaid Lords States General. 

(Signed) C. Aerssens. 

(Endorsed) Petition for S r Thomas Dael, Knight and Captain in the 
service of the High and Mighty Lords the States General of 
the United Netherlands. 26 th January 1G1S. 



Resolution of the States General^ referring Sir Thomas Dale's Petition. 

[ From the Register of Resolutions of the States General, in the Royal Archives at the Hagne. ] 

Friday, 2(5 January 1618. 
roiio is. gj r Carleton, Ambassador from the King of Great Britain, appeared in the 

Ambassador Carle- 
Ion. Assembly, and by his Majesty's Order, first verbally and afterwards in writing 

Daei. inserted hereafter, very earnestly recommended the petition of Sir Thomas Dael, 

Knight, Captain in the public service, returned from Virginia, whither he was permitted by 

their High Mightinesses to proceed some years ago, on the serious recommendation of the 

Prince of Wales of glorious memory, in order that their High Mightinesses would be pleased 

to allow the Petitioner his ordinary allowance during the time of his absence, and to grant 

him an order for the payment, so that he may thereby discharge his debts. And upon 

deliberation it is resolved, before disposing thereof, to obtain the advice of the Council of State. 



Resolution of the Council of State of the United Netherlands. 

[From the Register of Resolutions of the Council of State, in the Royal Archives at the Hague.] 

Monday, the xxix th January 161S. 

captain Daei. On th e petition of Captain S r Thomas Dael, to advise the High and Mighty 

Lords States General, that it is the opinion of the Council, under correction, that the 
petitioner may for this once and without forming a precedent, be rewarded with the payment 
of half his wages during the time of his absence, being seven years, out of consideration of the 
favorable recommendation made and presented by Ambassador Carleton, by order of his Royal 
Majesty of Great Britain, in writing, in their High Mightinesses Assembly, and in regard 
that the petitioner is a resolute, serviceable person, and what he hath effected in Virginia, 
is very remarkable; unless their High Mightinesses may, on account of the aforesaid 
recommendation and for other causes, be pleased to take a more favorable view of this case. 



20 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Resolution of the States General on the Opinion of the Council of State. 

[ From the Register of Resolutions of the States General, in the Royal Archives, at the Hague. ] 

Saturday, the 3 d of February 161S. 
Foiio 28. Read the opinion of the Council of State, on the petition of Thomas Dael, 

capt. Daei. Knight, dated 30 th January last, purporting that, for reasons therein set forth, and 

especially out of regard for Ambassador Carleton's recommendation, made and presented to 
their High Mightinesses in writing on behalf, and by order, of his Royal Majesty of Great 
Britain, they consider that, although this matter is of evil consequence to the public in 
respect to all other Captains and officers in this country's service, yet the gratification of the 
petitioner somewhat on his request cannot be well avoided ; and that it is, therefore, deemed 
advisable, for this once, and without its ever being drawn forward by any person as a precedent, 
that he may be gratified with the payment of the half of his, the petitioner's, wages during 
the long period of his absence, being seven years, unless their High Mightinesses may be 
pleased to take a more favorable view of the matter, by reason of the aforesaid recommendation 
and that the petitioner is a person of resolution and of use, and that it is also very remarkable 
what he hath effected in Virginia. But the final resolution thereupon is postponed until Monday. 



Resolution of the States General approving the Report of the Council of State. 

[ From the Register of Resolutions of the States General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Tuesday, the 6 th February 1618. 
Foiio82. The opinion of the Council of State of the 30 January last, on the petition of 

Capt. Daei. Captain Thomas Dael, Knight, opened here on the 3 d ins' being considered, their 

High Mightinesses for reasons therein contained, but principally out of respect for the strong 
recommendation of M. Carleton presented on the part, and by order, of his Royal Majesty of 
Great Britain to this Assembly, have approved that written opinion; and directed accordingly, 
that the Petitioner shall be gratified with the payment of half his wages for the time of his 
absence, namely, seven years, without it, however, being drawn into precedent. 



Further Resolution of the States General in the matter of Sir Thomas Dale. 

[ From the Register of Resolutions of the States General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Friday, the 9 ,h February 1618. 
Foiio 86. The resolution of the 6 lh inst., adopted by their High Mightinesses on the petition 
captDaei. of Sir Thomas Dael, Knight, Captain of a Company in this country's service, 






HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: I. 21 

being reconsidered with the previous opinion of the Council of State, and special attention being 
paid to the recommendation of M. Carleton, Ambassador from the King of Great Britain, 
made and presented in writing by his Majesty's Order to their High Mightinesses, also the 
relation which the service, performed by the petitioner in Virginia, hath with this country, 
their High Mightinesses have agreed and hereby consent that the petitioner shall be gratified 
by the payment of his full wages for the time of his absence, to wit, seven years, the 
resolution adopted at the time of his absence to the contrary notwithstanding, without, however, 
the same being drawn into precedent. Ordering) that for such purpose, this resolution shall 
be communicated to the Council of State for execution. 



Permission to William Jansen to publish his Chart. 

Resolution of the Lords States of Holland and Westvriesland : dated 10 
August, 161S. 

Petition or wiiem On the petition of Willem Jansz., Burgher at Amsterdam, complaining that he is 

Jansz. Burgher at ..... . ii-ii , r i« i i i a , • 

Amsterdam, to pub- torbidden to publish the chart of the new passage discovered by the Australian 

liah a ehart ot the l r o J 

new passage by the Company, and that such was done here by others to his loss; it is concluded, 

Australian Com* r J J ' 

pany - although it were preferable that the chart should not have been published, yet 

not to render the petitioner's case worse than others', he is allowed to publish the chart. 



Resolution of the States General on the trade to New Netherlands. 

[From the Register of Resolutions of the States General, in the Royal Archive- at the Hague. ] 

Thursday, 4 October 16 J S. 
Foiio 267. Read the petition of the Company trading to the island of New Netherland, 

New Nethenand. requesting the continuance of their charter for some years longer to trade 
exclusively to the aforesaid Island. But it is resolved, before disposing thereof, first to see and 
reconsider the aforesaid petitioners' charter. 



Resolution of the States General on the Petition of Hendrick Elkins. 

[From the Register of Resolutions of the Slates General In the Royal Archives at the Hagne. ] 

Tuesday the 9 th October 1618. 
Foiio272. Read the petition of Henrick Eelkins and Adriaen Jansse Engel cum sociis, all 

and company. merchants residing at Amsterdam, associates and partners in what is called the 



22 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

New Netherland Company, which their High Mightinesses have incorporated for the term of four 
successive years, whereof the fourth and last year hath expired in January last ; requesting 
that, in consequence of said expiration and of their, the petitioners', having already prepared 
hi to New a sn 'P name d the Scldlt to proceed thither, their High Mightinesses would be 
Nethenand. pleased to grant them a favorable permission, in order that they may perform the 

aforesaid voyage without any opposition from their former partners. Their High Mightinesses 
have consented hereunto, because, and by reason, of the expiration of the charter granted to 
the petitioners, and therefore permit them to perform their intended voyage to New Netherland 
with their prepared ship herein mentioned. 



Resolution of the States General^ on the Colonization of New Netherland. 

[ From the Register of Resolutions of the States General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Wednesday, 12 February 1620. 
Foiio45. Read the petition of the Directors of the Company trading to New Netherland, 

New Netherland _ r ... 

Company. situate between New France and Virginia, in thel atitude of from forty to forty- 

five degrees, that the aforesaid Island might be peopled under their High Mightinesses' 
protection and government, whereunto they request two ships of war. But it is resolved, 
before disposing thereof, to procure the opinion of the deputies from the Board of Admiralty 
who are invited here for the 15 lb inst. 



Petition of the Directors of the New Netherland Company. 

[ From the Original in the Royal Archives at the Hague ; File entitled Admiraliteit. ] 

To the Prince of Orange, &c. 

uuetoUhCBna^Tf Tlie Directors f the Company trading to New Netherland, situate in latitude 
mvued al here f°r tho from 40 to 4-5 degrees, between New France and Virginia, reverently represent 
i2Feb. 3 i8'2ii. (sign! that they, the petitioners, have, as discoverers and first finders of said countries, 

cd) C. Aersaens ,-.,., , .. i- ■ 1^,1 . ,. 

W2i). traded thither now several years, in virtue ot a certain general Charter irom the 

High and Mighty Lords States General, dated the 10 ,b March 1614; that they, also, have 
delivered to their High Mightinesses their written report, with a map of the situation and 
usefulness of said countries. And whereas the petitioners' Charter has expired, so that every 
one is now at liberty to trade there, they have again sent thither two ships, in order to 
preserve the reputation of said trade; some vessels have been likewise sent by other traders 
exclusive of the Company. Now it happens, that there is residing at Leyden a certain English 
Preacher, versed in the Dutch language, who is well inclined to proceed thither to live, 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: I. 23 

assuring the petitioners that he has the means of inducing over four hundred families to 
accompany him thither, both out of this country and England, provided they would be 
guarded and preserved from all violence on the part of other potentates, by the authority and 
under the protection of your Princely Excellency and the High and Mighty Lords States 
General, in the propagation of the true, pure Christian religion, in the instruction of the Indians 
in that country in true learning, and in converting them to the Christian Faith, and thus, 
through the mercy of the Lord, to the greater glory of this country's government, to plant 
there a new Commonwealth, all under the order and command of your Princely Excellency 
and the High and Mighty Lords States General. And whereas they, the petitioners, have 
experienced that his Majesty of Great Britain would be disposed to people the aforesaid 
lands with the English nation, and by force to render fruitless their possession and discovery, 
and thus deprive this State of its light, and apparently with ease surprize the ships of this 
country which are there, and are ordered to remain there the whole year; wherefore, they, the 
petitioners, pray and request that your Princely Excellency may benignly please to take 
all the aforesaid into favorable consideration, so that, for the preservation of this country's 
rights, the aforesaid Minister and the four hundred families may be taken under the protection 
of this country, and that two ships of war may be provisionally despatched to secure to the 
state the aforesaid Countries, inasmuch as they would be of much importance, whenever 
the West India Company is established, in respect to the large abundance of timber fit for 
ship building &c, as may be seen by the accompanying report. On all which 

(Endorsed) Petition of the Directors of the Company 

trading to New Netherland. 12 February, 1620. 



Resolution of the States General on the Report of the Board of Admiralty respecting 

the foregoing Petition. 

[ From the Register of Resolutions of the States General, in the Archives at the Hague. ] 

Wednesday, the 26 ,h February 1620. 
Foiio es. The Deputies present from the Board of Admiralty have presented to their 

High Mightinesses, in writing, its opinion on the petition presented by the 
company. Directors of the Company trading to New Netherland, hereinbefore inserted ; and 

insertion. t | ]e aforesaid opinion being read, and considered, it is resolved, before disposing 

thereof, that his Excellency shall be consulted and his opinion obtained. 



Admiralty. 

New Netherland 



24 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Further Resolution of the States General on the preceding Petition. 

[ From the Register of Resolutions of the States General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Tuesday, the 10 ,h March, 1620. 
roiio 75. Resolved, that the opinion of his Excellency shall be first obtained on the 

co.n P any. e Petition presented by the Directors of the Company trading to New Netherland, 

before acting on it and on the advice of the Deputies from the Board of Admiralty. 



Further Resolution of the States General. 

[ From the Register of Resolutions of the States General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Friday, the 10 th of April, 1620. 
Foiio us. Read the petition of the Directors of the New Netherland Company, that their 

company.^ request should be favorably disposed of, and resolved to obtain his Excellency's 

opinion thereupon. 



•-■ »n > 



Resolution of the States General on the Petition of the New Netherland Company. 

[From the Register of Resolutions of the States General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague.] 

Saturday, the 11 April, 1620. 
Foiio us. The petition of the Directors of the New Netherland Company, that they, 

company. for the peopling of said Island, may be assisted with two ships of war, is 

again rejected. 



Resolution of the States General on further Petitions to trade to New Netherland. 

[ From the Register of Resolutions of the States General, in the Royal Archives at the Untrue. ] 



Saturday, 29 lh August, 1620. 



Folio 263. 



Read the petition of the Joint Owners of the Ship named the Glad Tidings (de 

The owners of the r r ° ' 

din P 3 lbB Glad T '~ blyde bootschaf) whereof Cornells Jacobsen Mey of Hoorn is commander, who 
New found country, having discovered some new Countries populous and fertile, abounding in all sorts 
of Timber and never discovered before, pray that their High Mightinesses may be pleased to hear 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: I. 25 

the Report of the Skipper who made the voyage, and allow the petitioners the benefit of 
their High Mightinesses' Charter, dated 27th March XV[ C xiv, and to declare, moreover, within 
what time they shall have to perform the four voyages therein mentioned. 

Item, another petition of Henrick Eelkens, Adriaen Janssen cum suis, Merchants at 
chartered to Now Amsterdam, having had a charter to trade exclusively to New Netherland, 
discovered by them, situate from the thirty-fourth to about the fiftieth degrees, 
requesting that their High Mightinesses would be pleased to reject and refuse all grants that 
may have been demanded, or still will be demanded of them, regarding the Trade on the Coasts, 
or any of the Rivers of New Netherland, and to allow the petitioners and other merchants of 
this Country to continue in the free trade they are pursuing there, and further to equip some 
ships which they have in a sufficient state of forwardness. 

The aforesaid Petitions having been read, both parties are called in, and having appeared 
with the respective Skippers who made the Voyages and being heard, it is, on question 
having been put, resolved, that parties shall consult together and see if they cannot agree 
in a friendly manner. 



Resolution of the States General refusing the Prayer of said Petitions. 

[ From the Register of Resolutions of the States General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Friday, the G lh Novemb r 1G20. 

Folio 829. 

New Netherland. Mess" Pauw and Fervau reported their proceedings between both parties of 

the Merchants claiming New Netherland, endeavoring to reconcile them. But as that could 
not be done, it is, after consideration, resolved and concluded that the requested Charter shall 
be refused. 



Proceedings on the Petition of Traders to Virginia, &c. 

Resolution of the States of Holland and Westvriesland, dated 13 Sepf. 1621. 

miQ$n/B*m$i£ Read a petition from Gerritvan Schoudhoven and other Guinea Traders ; Rem, 
quesling'w'be' Z~- also, the petition of Traders to Virginia, requesting to be allowed to send out 
BhTpo to fetch their some ships to bring their returns thence to this Country, as the trade and 

Retunu fr-'iii that , ■ , 

country hither. commerce thither are not to be lost before the West India Company be formed 
and ready. 

On consideration, it is unanimously resolved, that the aforesaid petitions shall be voted for 
and supported, on behalf of this Province, in the General Assembly, on condition that the 
petitioners pledge themselves to be back to this country before the 1 st July next. 

Vol. I. 4 



25 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Resolution of the States General respecting New Virginia. 

[ From Ihe Register of Resolutions ol the Stales General, in the Royal Archives at the Ilagne. ] 

Tuesday, the 4 ,h September, 1621. 

Folio 881. . . 

Henrick Aiiartszzn Read the petition of Henrick Allartszzn 1 cum suis, in which they request 

cum suis. .. . .. - T , T ... ri*wi* i j 

Virginia. permission to send a ship to New Virginia to letch their people and property 

from there ; but it is resolved, before disposing thereof, to hear the opinion of the Board of 
Admiralty in Zealand. 



Resolution of the States General permitting a ship to proceed to Virginia. 

[ From Ihe Register of Resolutions of the States General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague.] 

Wednesday, 15 September, 1621. 

Foiio863. On the petition of Henrick Elkens, Hans Jooris Houton and Adriaen Janssen, 

^m d 8uis. E ' ken8 Engel cum sociis, merchants in Amsterdam, what follows is granted: — 

The States General, &c, having communication of the contents of this petition, have, for 
reasons submitted with the presentation thereof, granted, and do hereby grant, for disposition 
thereof, that the petitioners, according to their request, shall be at liberty to send their ship 
named the White Dove, burthen about forty lasts, whereof Wilhem Janssen Houton is 
Master, to Virginia, on condition that they shall have returned to this country before the first 
of July next, with their goods and ship. 



Resolution of the States General permitting another Ship to be sent to Virginia. 

[ From the Register of Resolutions of the States General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Friday, 24 th Septemb r , 1621. 
Dirck voikerue. On the petition of Dierck Volckertse, Doctor Verus and Doctor Carbasius, 

cum suis. residing at Hoorn, Pieter Nannincx, of Medenblik, Accountant, and Cornelis 

Volckertse, together with Pieter Dircxzen Schoders, it is allowed as followeth: 

The States, etc., having communication of the contents of this petition, have, for reasons 
therein mentioned, allowed and hereby allow, for disposition thereof, and that the aforesaid 
Petitioners may, accordingly, for the purpose aforesaid, send to the Virginias, one ship, laden 
with all sorts of permitted merchandise, to trade with and profit by the same; and afterwards 
to bring over their cargoes, goods, clerks and seamen, to this country, provided that they 
shall have returned home before the first of July, sixteen hundred and twenty-two. 

1 Misspelt for " Henrich Elkens," see next resolution. — Ed. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: I. 27 

Resolution of the States General permitting a Shij) to be sent to New Netherland. 

[ From the Register of Resolutions of the States General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Tuesday, 28 th September, 1621. 

Tra.iers" V New On the petition of Claes Jacobse Harincarspel, Councillor and antient Schepen 
of the city of Amsterdam, Petrus Plancius, minister of the Holy Word, Lambrecht 
van Tweenhuyzen, Hans Claessen and company, trading to certain coasts, countries and rivers, 
by them discovered, lying between Virginia and New France, between the 40 ,h and 45" 1 
degrees of latitude, called New Netherlands also, to a great river situate between the 
thirty-eighth and fortieth degrees, it is, after deliberation, allowed as followeth: 

The States General, etc., having considered the tenor of this petition, have, for reasons 
therein set forth, granted and do hereby grant, for disposition thereof, that the aforesaid 
petitioners, for the purpose aforesaid, may accordingly send to the above mentioned countries, 
coasts and rivers, by them discovered, lying between Virginia and New France, in the latitude 
of forty to forty-five degrees, called New Netherland, also to the adjoining countries and a 
great river lying between latitude thirty-eight and forty degrees, two ships laden with all sorts 
of permitted merchandize, the one to the aforesaid New Netherland, and the other to the 
aforesaid New River, lying in latitude between eight and thirty and forty degrees, and to 
the small rivers thereon depending, to trade away and dispose of their old stock which they 
have there, and afterwards to bring back into this country, their goods, cargoes, clerks and 
seamen, on condition that they must be home with their ships and goods before the first 
of July, 1622. 

1621. 
Memorandum. 
The proceedings of the States General in regard to the erection of a Genera] West India Company, which they chartered 
this year, being very prolix, and having relation principally to Brazil, it was not thought expedient to have transcripts 
thereof made, especially as the Original Octroy, together with all the amendments and additions, is contained in the " Groot 
Placaat book" or Book of Resolutions and acta of the States, a copy of which, purchased by me UDder the direction of the 
Trustees, is now in the State Library. J. R. B. 



Resolution of the States General on a Communication from Sir Dudley Carleton. 

[ Fr.jm the Register of Resolutions of the States General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Wednesday, the 16* March, 1622. 
Fouo9i. g; r Carleton, Ambassador from the Kins; of Great Britain, recommended that 

Great Britain. ° 

their High Mightinesses would adopt a resolution on his proposition relating to 
Virginia. Virginia. It is, thereupon, resolved to request Burgomaster Pauw that he would 

New Netherland. be pleased to write to the partners in the trade to the Island of New Netherland, 
to the effect that their High Mightinesses desire to be informed of the state of the matter 
contained in the aforesaid proposition. 1 

1 For this proposition, see post. III., S. — Ed. 



2g NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Resolution of the States of Holland and Westfriesland on a proposed plan of 

Emigration. 

[ From the printed Eegister. ] 

The 21 April, 1622. 
Famii.es to be con- -phe Directors of the West India Company report that they have examined 

veyed to the West r •> r " 

Imiies - the paper relative to the Families to be conveyed to the West Indies, and are of 

opinion, that it is very advantageous for the Company, and therefore that an effort ought to be 
made to promote it, with a promise that they should be employed ; and to postpone it until 
the Directors should be formed, if the Assembly thought proper that this promise should be 
made to them ; which, being considered by the Lords, gentlemen and cities, it is unanimously 
resolved and concluded, that the said promise shall be given with the knowledge of the 
Magistracy, and to proceed with it accordingly. 



Resolution of the States General on a Communication from Sir Dudley Carleton. 

[ From the Eegister of Resolutions of the Stales General, in Iho Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Wednesday, 27 th April, 1622. 
Foiioi5o. Ambassador Carleton recommended that a resolution be passed on the 

Great Britain. 

communication he had made on the part of his Majesty, regarding the Island of 
Virginia. Virginia; and it is resolved, that the said communication shall be examined, 

together with what has been published in print at Amsterdam on this subject. 



Resolution of the States General on the Petition of the heir of Rev. Mr. Plancius. 

[ From the Register of Resolutions of the States General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Saturday, lS ,b June, 1622. 
Folio 230. Read the petition of Claes Jacobsen Harinckcarspel, Schepen and Councillor of 

the city of Amsterdam, heir of the deceased Petrus Plancius minister of God's word, cum 
New Neiheriand. suis, praying, for reasons set forth in the petition, that the time allowed to them, 
the petitioners, to bring over their returns from New Netherland to this country, may be 
extended six months, but the resolution thereupon is postponed. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: I. 29 

Resolution of the States General respecting the papers of the West India Company. 

[ From the Register of Resolutions of the States General, in the Eoyal Archives at the Hague.] 

Tuesday, the 29 ,h November, 1622. 
WMt^india^com. Granted, that the papers of the West India Company remaining in the office 
panjr - of the General Assembly, shall be inventoried and handed to the Directors of 

said Company, on their receipt and promise of restitution. 



Secret Resolution of the States General on a proposed Union of the West India 

Companies. 

[ From the Register of "Secret Resolutions of the States General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Friday, the 22 nd March, 1624. 
Foiio 53. His Excellency appearing in the Assembly, in his presence are read the points 

England. of the further instruction for the Ambassadors to England, left open on the 19 tb 

February last, viz': the fourth, 7 th and S th points of said instruction; and, upon consideration, 
and with the advice of his illustrious Excellency, it is resolved and concluded ; first, on the 
Mutual cooperation fourth point, regarding the West India Company and the letter of the Lords of 

West India Com- ° . r J 

p» n ><*. Langeracq, of the 1 st instant, lately received, mentioning a West India Company 

begun to be formed in France, that copy and extract shall be sent to Mess" their High 
Mightinesses' deputies at present attending the meeting of the XlXof the West India Company at 
Amsterdam, to submit to the meeting, as matters are in such a condition in France and England 
at present, that probably a West India Company will be formed in one and the other kingdom, 
or else some expedition be undertaken, whether they will not embrace this occasion and 
consider if it would not be prudent to confer on a combination of the Companies, or of some 
other equipment to be sent, on both sides, to the West Indies, reflecting that this Company will 
not, of itself, be strong enough, without assistance and the aid and cooperation of others, to 
resist alone such a powerful force as is put to sea at present by Spain, to the number of fifty 
ships, for the purpose of crushing the Company in its infancy; that it will also be useful to 
agree respecting the present and the future ; as the French and the English will not omit, 
when this Company shall have sustained the heaviest of the burthen, to frequent the places 
which may be incorporated by God's gracious help, and from which they cannot be excluded 
without falling into the same difficulty as the East India Company had with them, which 
can now be easier obviated, either by a combination of the companies or by some mutual 
equipment to be executed hereafter. 

On the 7 th and Eighth points, it is deemed prudent first to wait for advices from England, 
of the success of the affair and resolution there, in order, when that is seen, to be able to 
resolve thereupon with better foundation. 

presents to the com- And whereas his Excellency proposes that the Ambassadors ought necessarily 
be authorized, in case any league be concluded, to make some present to Mess" 



musioners. 



30 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

His Majesty's Commissioners who shall be engaged in this league, as is usual in such contracts. 
It is resolved to wait the advice of the Ambassadors themselves as to what they should think 
best to be done in the case, whilst it is concluded that the gratuity ought to be regulated in 
proportion to the advantage and profit to be derived by this country from the league. 



Assembly of the XIX. of the West India Company to the States General. 

[ From the Original in the Royal Archives at the Hague ; File West Indie, 1628 — 1629. ] 

High and Mighty Lords, 

We transmit to you, herewith, High and Mighty, copy of a certain letter, sent to us from 
Hoorn, by some deputies of this Assembly. Your High Mightinesses will understand 
therefrom, that we (to our regret) are informed of the evil intentions and designs, maliciously 
undertaken, by a certain shipper and other persons there, directly contrary to the favorable 
charter and amplification granted by your High Mightinesses to this Company ; and therefore, 
not only in opposition to your High Mightinesses' good intention and meaning, but also 
against the welfare and prosperity of this said Company, and consequently against your High 
Mightinesses' country and many of its good inhabitants. And whereas, it is of paramount 
necessity, for the maintenance of the aforesaid charter and its subsequent amplification, also, 
for the promotion of the Company's affairs, and especially for the removal and prevention of 
such evil designs and malversations, that provision be made, and such example at once 
determined, as will deter others from attempting the like for the future; We could not, 
therefore, refrain from communicating this to you, High and Mighty, in the form of a complaint, 
and requesting at the same time, that you, High and Mighty, would be pleased so to provide 
therein, and so to order, that not only the aforesaid ship should be forbidden and prevented 
undertaking its intended voyage, but that the Company may also be put beyond the risk of 
such evil practices being in future undertaken and attempted to its injury; and, likewise, to 
act further therein as your High Mightinesses shall consider necessary for the greatest 
advantage of this Company, and in keeping with your strong affection for its prosperity: And, 
whereas, the noble Mighty States of Holland are at present assembled, it is most humbly 
requested, that you, High and Mighty, would be pleased on the occasion, to order and direct, 
through those of the North Quarter, that the sails and guns be removed from the aforesaid 
ship; advising you, High and Mighty, moreover, that we also certainly understand that many 
are equipped in that Northern department for the West Indies; and we therefore request you, 
High and Mighty, to be pleased, through the said Lords of the North Quarter, also so to 
provide, for reasons aforesaid, that the same be prevented and abandoned. Which hoping 
we shall, 

High and Mighty Lords, commend you, High and Mighty, to the protection of the Most High. 
Your High Mightinesses most obedient servants, 

The Commissioners at the Assembly of the Nineteen of the 
Incorporated West India Company, now in session in Amsterdam. 

Amsterdam, this 30 lh March, 1624. (Signed) Henr: Feith. 

Received 2 April. Jan Gysbreght. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: I. 31 

Agents of the West India Company at Room, to the Assembly of the XIX. 

[ From the MS. received as an Appendix by the States General ; Royal Archives, Hague. File WttA Indie. ] 

Honorable, Worthy, Wise and right Prudent gentlemen and friends. 

Whereas we repaired this morning to the meeting of the Directors of this city, and, after 
sundry conversations, explained to their Honors that we understood that a certain ship was 
fitting out here with design to go to the Virgmias under French commission, intending to take 
along good carpenters and shipwrights to construct a store, houses and ships there in order to 
be employed elsewhere within the limits of the charter. This then appearing to be a matter 
of great consequence, we both deemed it proper to wait on the Magistrates of Hoorn, as we 
did forthwith, and after explanatory introduction, requested them, as Judges and administrators 
of the laws, to maintain us against this contravention of the charter, and its amplification. 
Whereupon they auswered, that we might certainly rely on them, and they resolved, with our 
previous advice, to summon the Skipper, who was busy taking out his ship, and about to sail 
forthwith, to demand of him an inventory thereof, and of all that is, or will be received on 
board. The Skipper appearing in our absence, refused to comply, saying he wishes to go to 
France, wanting to know who acted thus, threatening to complain, as if the King of France's 
crown were attacked. The Burgomasters finding him thus obstinate, said that he was then 
arrested until he should give satisfaction herein, against which he has protested, and demanded 
certificate of arrest. We thought proper that this should be done in the name and on behalf 
of the Assembly of the XIX., though we are not expressly authorized hereunto. We request 
your advice whether the arrest shall continue, and what further shall be done in the premises. 
You may be assured that a certain person of credit is here, who was lately offered a share of 
that ship, well knowing that some owners reside here and at Amsterdam : therefore, the matter 
ought, in our opinion, be prosecuted, for the sake of example, and thereby to discourage others, 
who are disposed to go the same road. Regarding our affairs, we have done nothing, except 
to make some preparatory arrangements to facilitate the business as much as possible, expecting 
to-day the Deputies of the respective cities. The Directors of Hoorn have informed us, that 
they authorized, or wrote to your Commissioners for the opening of their subscription to the 
capital, in the assurance that their petition shall be taken into consideration. What relates to 
it, your Honors will presently know. 

Herewith ending. (Under stood:) 

Honorable, worthy, wise, right, discreet gentlemen, praying the Almighty to keep you in 
his Holy protection. 

(Signed) Your Honors' dutiful Commissioners, 

Hoorn, the 29 th March, 1624. Rogier Cobbert 

Received 2 d April, 1624. Blendricxs", 

Alb' Wifrinck. 

(At the side stood:) Post. After closing this, the arrested Skipper hath had an attachment 
served on us, and summoned us for the next day, which we shall endeavor to meet by 
exceptions, etc., until further instructions and advice will be received from your Honors. 

The address was: 

Right Honorable, worthy, wise and most prudent, 
the Commissioners at the Assembly of the Nineteen, 
on behalf of the West India Company, at Amsterdam. 



32 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

States General to the Assembly of the XIX. 

[ From the Minute in the Royal Archives at the Hague; File West Jndie, 1623—1024. ] 

The States. 
David pietera. Honorable : By the annexed petition, presented to us by Captain David Pleters, 

you will be able to learn what he hath communicated and requested on the part of his owners 
residing at Rochelle. 

And whereas we so regard the matter that the Incorporated West India Company ought not to 
enter, in the beginning, into a dispute with the subjects of neighboring Kings and Princes, but 
much rather observe good correspondence and friendship towards them. 

We have, therefore, deemed it proper and necessary to send Your Honors the aforesaid 
Petition, and reflecting on theconsequences which may arise to the injury of the Company by 
disputes with the French, hereby recommend you to endeavor that this matter be arranged 
by agreement; either that your Honors receive the ship and cargo by purchase from the 
Petitioner, or, should this not be effected, cause him to enter into bonds, that the ship will 
not go within the limits of your Charter; or that some other amicable arrangement may be 
discovered whereby both sides may be satisfied. Whereunto awaiting. 

Done the 6 th April, 1624. 



-*■-♦-♦-•»*- 



Secret Resolution of the States General on the proposed Union of the West India 

Companies. 

[ From the Register of Secret Resolutions of the States General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Tuesday, the 9 ,h of April, 1624. 
En land "" 55 Mess" van Zoelen, Duyck and Magnus have reported that they have, with 

instruction for the his Excellency, reconsidered the resolution adopted on the 22 d March last, on the 
points left open for the further Instruction for the Ambassadors to England, and 

Coalition oftheWest ' ' . 

India company. especially the 4 ,b ,7 ,h and S lh points of the above mentioned Instructions concerning, 
*dfm n ca e se f o f m war! first: the West India Company; secondly: the aid that should be promised from 
Military affairs. this side in case the King go to war; and, thirdly: if some regiments might be 
new soldiers. exchanged, new levies for old experienced soldiers; and, conformably to the 

advice of his Excellency, it is resolved, on the first point: That the declaration of the Assembly 
of the Nineteen on this matter must be waited for, to which purpose their High Mightinesses' 
Deputies now returning to that Assembly, are directed, moreover, to insist thereon by resolution, 
in order to send copy thereof to the Ambassadors. Regarding the second and third points, as 
there is no appearance that the King will be willing to bring a formal Army into the field, it 
is resolved, that it is, as yet, unnecessary to determine specially thereupon, but prudent to 
postpone it until it will be seen what his Majesty will please to resolve in the premises. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: I. 33 

Secret Resolution of the States General. 

[ From the Ri gister of Secret Resolutions of States General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Friday, the 17 th of May, 1G24. 
France. ' ^ being reported that his Excellency has been pleased to write the letter 

ba»"aiior°s. th0 Am " resolved on yesterday to the Ambassadors in France, in answer to their letter of 
the S" 1 instant, it is concluded to let it be sent, as here inserted : — 



The Slates General of the United Netherlands. 

Honorable, wise, right prudent Gentlemen: We duly received, on the 10 th inst., your 
despatches of the 27 th and last of April. In like manner, was handed to us, on the 14 lh 
following, that of the S' h inst., which you sent express per Stevan van Groeningen; and the 
one and the other being considered by us, We find what you require our further resolution 
upon consists of the following points; first: of making no Treaty of peace or Truce, except, 
&c; 2°: of the aid to be furnished by us according to the 4 tb and 5 lh articles of the Treaty of 
the year 160S; 3°: of the East and West India navigation ; 4°: of the breaking with those of 
Algiers; 5°: of the Judicature, &c. 

On the third point, speaking of the East and West India Company, you will, so far as relates 
To decline the East to tne East Indies, decline it, with the best reasons you can adduce; and finallyi 
indm trade. declare that nothing can be done therein without hearing the Company. And 

in case his Majesty should please to propose any thing, or make any overtures, in this regard, 
that after hearing it, the Company shall be asked to give his Majesty all possible satisfaction; 
combination of the and as far as the West Indies is concerned, We have sent you, by Salais, the 

West India Oompa- 

Di< » declaration of the Nineteen, to which we refer, in order that you may treat 

accordingly. Herewith we send another copy thereof, in case the first should not have come 
to hand. 

Respecting the fourth point, you shall, etc. 



Extract from the Journal of the Dutch Ambassadors in England. 

[ From the Original in the Royal Archives, at the Hague. ] 

Extract of the Journal or Report of the Mess" Francis van Aerssen, Lord of 
Sommelsdyk, Sec, and Albert Joachimi, Lord at Ostend in Oudekens- 
kercken, Ambassadors from the States General of the United Netherlands, 
near the King of Great Britain, from February to July, 1624. 

4 June, 1624. My lord, the Prince of Wales, sent Mr. Caer, first Lord of his Bedchamber, 
some days ago to us, and requested us, through him, that we would believe that Sir Ferdinand 
Georges, Governor of Portsmouth, is an honest and honorable gentleman, and that we should 

Vm.. I. 5 



£4 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

so consider him, in whatever he had to transact with us, without the above named Caer 
knowing any thing of what the above mentioned Sir Ferdinand had to do with us, or the 
purport of the aforesaid recommendation. 

4 ,h June. The aforesaid Sir Ferdinand Georges, came to us and made known, that he and 
his being disposed to annoy the Spaniard, one of his sons who is in New England, proposes 
some notable enterprises in the West Indies. And inasmuch as he, seeing the uncertainty 
of the resolutions in England, was afraid that his son, having performed the exploit and coming 
home, may be complained of in consequence to the King; he prayed that, in case the King 
of Great Britain remained in friendship with the King of Spain, his son may be guarantied 
by your High Mightinesses, and commission granted him to annoy the King of Spain, in your 
name. We praised his good disposition, and said that the exploit, when achieved, could be 
best/avowed. That otherwise, when Naval commissions were issued by your High Mightinesses 
they were formally maintained. He said he made no difficulty as to that. And, afterwards, 
put his request in writing, which we have brought over to your High Mightinesses. 

We have heard, etc. 

Thus done and communicated by us, undersigned, 

(Signed) Francoys van Aerssen, 
Alb: Joachimi. 



Resolution of the States General on the Report of the West India Company. 

I From the Register of Resolutions of the States General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Monday, the 14 Octob., 1624. 
Foiio429. Albert Koenraets and Philips Doublet, Directors of the West India Company, 

Report frnm Brazil, * 

virginiaand Guinea. a pp ear ed before the Assembly, and rendered a report of the present state of 
affairs, both in Africa and Brazil, relating that two ships have arrived from the coast of Guinea, 
bringing, in addition to their freight of 627 pounds of gold, 1S40 elephants' teeth, and 330 tons 
of pepper, news that the General there hath made an alliance and treaty with the King of 
Sabou and Acora, not to trade with any one except with those of the Company; and that he is 
engaged in a like negotiation with a third King. And that four ships have arrived from the 
Bay of All Saints, bringing the Vice Roy and his Son, and the Jesuits prisoners. That 
Admiral Willekes is gone to the West Indies with 12 Ships, and the Vice Admiral to Angola, 
with 5 ships. 

That one ship is arrived from Virginia, bringing some peltries with a number of other 
articles. Request their High Mightinesses' resolution on certain points delivered in writing by 
them, the disposal whereof is postponed to to-morrow. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: I. 35 

Resolution of the States General admitting Mr. Schagen to his Seat. 

[ From the Register of Resolutions of the StateB General, in the Royal Archives, at tha Hague. ] 

Tuesday, the 6 lb May, 1625. 

Mr. p. .i.'schagen. Received a letter from the States of Holland and Westfriesland, of this day's 
date, wherein they advise that they have deputed Pieter Janssen Schagen, Councillor and 
Magistrate of. the City of Alcmaer, to their High Mightinesses' Assembly, in the stead of 
the Mr. Albert Sonck, requesting that he may obtain admittance, which their High 
Mightinesses granted. 



Effects of the West India Company, 1626. 

[ From the Original in the Royal Archives at the Hague ; File, West Indien. ] 

Two ships destined for the trade and settlement of the Colony in New Netherland. 

Effects of the Incorporated West India Company, as they are found at present, after it was 
determined, as it indeed is true, that the Sailors and Soldiers of the Fleets of General 
Boudewyn Hendrixsen, the Admiral t'Lam, be paid, and can be forthwith paid out of the 
Company's previous funds, and all moneys on interest be paid, which are very trifling. 
Estimated this 4 th Sept r , 1626. 

9 ships from 150 to 200 (al 230 lasts, well equipped. 
3 large yachts. 

In all, 12 ships and yachts destined for the African trade in Guinea, Benin, 
Angola, Greyn, and Quaqua coasts, with the exported cargoes and 
expected returns, as more fully can be shewn, amount to, according 

to cost, fl. 1,709,000 

1 ship of Dordrecht to Cape Verd, with cargo, 60,000 

1 ship | destined for the trade of the Amazon and the Coast of Guiana, 

2 yachts j with the cargoes, 80,000 

1 ship of about 130 lasts, ] well equipped, destined for the trade and 

1 yacht j colonization of New Netherland, estimated, 

at least, at 120,000 



Total, 18 ships and yachts trading to all quarters where the Company hath any 

free trade, amounting to 1,969,000 

9 large ships of 200 to 300 lasts, ] despatched in May, 1626, under 

5 large and small yachts, j Admiral Pieter Pieterzen Heyn, 

(whose plan promises to be successful) victualled for IS months, 

having full 1S00 men, furnished with metal and iron guns, amounting, 

with the equipage, to 700,000 



gg NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

8 ships ami yachts on divers expeditions, under Thomas Sickes flag, 

victualled for 18 mouths, amounting to fl. -00,000 

33 ships of 200, (at 300, @, 350 lasts, including 9 or 10 big and little yachts 

— which the Company hath still lying here in port, provided with 

In all 73 metal and iron guns, and all sorts of supplies of ammunition of war, 

ships. powder, muskets, arms, sabres, and whatever may be necessary for 

the equipment, which can be fitted for sea at the fourth part of their 

former cost, estimated, as more fully can be seen, at _- 1,100,000 

The sugar prize lately by Thomas Sickes, and the goods freighted 
through the fleet by General Boudewyn Hendrixen, will amount 
fully to, 300,000 

The wages of the 1G00 soldiers allowed to the Company by your High 
Mightinesses, and the expense incurred thereupon by the refusal to 
pay anything, 180,000 

That your High Mightinesses still owe, on the promised 1500 m guilders, 

to be paid before you can derive any advantage as partners, 150,000 

These following moneys are still to be received in cash, which being 
in the Treasury, will be applied to keep the foregoing ships at sea, 
not only to injure the King of Spain, but also by God's blessing 
to do your High Mightinesses and the Company much service, and 
the Partners good profit: 

From the shareholders what is yet unpaid of the 3 d installment; the 

third of the 3 d installment, estimated at 488,000 

From the shareholders for the 4 ,h installment, all which is forthcoming, 

amounting to 1,407,000 

Your High Mightinesses still remain indebted on the 1500 m guilders, 

bt sides the 150 m guilders before stated, 750,000 

Total, fl. 7,304,000 

Further, 5 ships 

and 3 yachts which your High Mightinesses promised to indemnify the 

Company for in guns, powder, and other munitions of war ; as these 
are still wanting to complete the subsidy promised by the 40 ,h article 
of the Charter, and by divers acknowledgments made by your High 
Mightinesses, as to be seen in resolutions. 
It remains to be stated, that the valuation of the ships and necessaries 
of war hereinbefore entered in gross, is not taken at the highest 
value, but will doubtless bring more when minutely reexamined. 
Then, as to what relates to the state of the trade and the pay of 
shareholders, they think they are sufficiently well informed thereof. 

IV. B. When the Assembly of the XIX. resolved to send the expedition under Admiral 
Willekens, the capital of the shareholders of all the chambers, added together, 
amounted to, fl. 4,300,000 

To which is added what your High Mightinesses promise by the Charter, 1,000,000 

In all fl. 5,300,000 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS : I. 37 

Thus, the Company's capital is greater at this time, by two millions, than it was at that 
period; besides, experience has given it more knowledge as to the condition of the places 
situate in the West Indies and the Brazils; what are useful or useless to the Company in that 
country; what can, and what cannot, be defended; all which is of great advantage to the 
Company and the country. 



Resolution of the States General appointing Deputies to the Assembly of the XIX. 

[ From the Origiual Register in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Resolution of the States General of the 10 lh October, 1626, appointing, as their 
High Mightinesses' Deputy in the Assembly of the XIX. of the West India 
Company, M r Pieter Janss Schagen, the writer of the earliest information 
relative to the Colony of New Netherland, of the 7 th November, 1626. 

Saturday, the 10 ,h Octob r , 1626. 
Received from the Directors of the West India Company, Chamber at Amsterdam, a letter 
dated the 7 th inst, wherein they advise, that for divers weighty reasons and considerations, 
affecting the welfare and prosperity of the Company, they have summoned the Assembly of 
the XIX. for the 17 ,h inst., to proceed to business on Monday, the 19 th , requesting their High 
Mightinesses would be pleased to send their Deputy thither for the said day, to assist said 
Assembly with their authority and wise council. Whereupon, deliberation being had, they 
thereunto commissioned Mess" Hendrick van Eck and Schagen. 



Mr. Peter Schagen to the States General ; the Island of Manhattans purchased. 

[ From the Original in the Royal Archives at the Hague ; File, entitled West Indie. ] 

High and Mighty Lords: 

Yesterday, arrived here the Ship the Arms of Amsterdam, which sailed from New Netherland, 
out of the River Mauritius, on the 23 ld September. They report that our people are in good 
heart and live in peace there ; the Women also have borne some children there. They have 
purchased the Island Manhattes from the Indians for the value of 60 guilders; 'tis 11,000 
mot-gens in size. They had all their grain sowed by the middle of May, and reaped by the 
middle of August. They send thence samples of summer grain ; such as wheat, rye, barley, 
oats, buckwheat, canary seed, beans and flax. 

The cargo of the aforesaid ship is : — 7246 Beaver skins. 

17SA Otter skins. 
675 Otter skins. 
4S Minck skins. 
36 Wild cat skins. 

33 Mincks. 

34 Rat skins. 



gg NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Considerable Oak timber and Hickory. 

Herewith, High and Mighty Lords, be commended to the mercy of the Almighty. 

In Amsterdam, the 5 th November. A d 1626. Your High Mightinesses' obedient, 

Received 7 th November, 1626. (Signed) P. Schagen. 

The address was as follows : 
High and Mighty Lords, 
M\ T Lords the States General 
at the Hague. 



Resolution of the States General. 

[From the Register of Resolutions of the States General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague.] 

Saturday, the 7 ,h November, 1626. 
Folio',:;. Received a letter from Mr. Schagen, written at Amsterdam, the 5 lh inst., 

Mr. Schagen. c , 

Arrival of a ship containing advice of the arrival of a Ship from New Netherland, which requires 

from New Nether- 
land. no action. • 



The Assembly of the XIX. to the States General. 

[From the Original in the Royal Archives, at the Hague ; File West Indie. J 

Extract. 

Exhibited the 16 th November, 1627. 

To the High and Mighty Lords States General of the United Netherlands. 

High and Mighty Lords. 

1. We have heretofore communicated to your High Mightinesses the exploits, &c. 
i. The last letters from New Netherland bring word, that the English of New Plymouth 
threaten to drive away those there, or to disturb them in their settlement and little colony, 
notwithstanding our's heretofore had tendered to them every good correspondence and 
friendship. They therefore request the aid of forty Soldiers for their defence. We would 
rather see it secured by friendly alliance. 

In March, last year, our yacht, the Sturgeon, was in the River Gambia. 

Your High Mightinesses' obedient 

The Committee of the Assembly of the XIX. 
(signed) Albert Kounraats, 
Michael Paauw, 
Corxelis Bicker, 
C Nicolay. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: I. 39 

The Assembly of the XIX. to the States General. 

[ From the Original in Ihe Eojal Archires at the Hsgue ; File, Witt Indie. ] 



Extract. 



High and Mighty Lords, 

We have heretofore represented, in writing, to your High Mightinesses, that our constituents, 
the respective Chambers of the Incorporated West India Company, think and fear that the utter 
ruin and dissolution of said Company will be the consequence of the present negotiation for a 
Truce with the Enemy, and have therefore with all submission besought you, High and Mighty, 
that you would be pleased to be careful that nothing may be done to the prejudice of its 
commenced proceedings, which have been of such benefit to this country ; but that the Company 
may, as heretofore, be also in future, strengthened and supported, and continue thus sustained, 
in order more and more to be of good service to this state and the stockholders. We have 
now considered it further necessary and useful to explain to you, High and Mighty, in all 
submission, the reasons of our fear, in order that your High Mightinesses being informed thereof, 
may more seriously consider the same; and to answer all such objections as may be brought 
forward to the contrary, so as to remove all arguments which may influence you, High and 
Mighty, to judge otherwise, of the importance of this matter. 

Your High Mightinesses are aware, and it is not unknown to us, that this Company was in 
the commencement, designed principally to increase Trade and Commerce, without which the 
great multitude of seamen bestowed by God on this country cannot be employed, and all 
occupations maintained in continual action and prosperity; that, also, those who supposed 
themselves most conversant with this trade, were of opinion that the West India Countries 
were not so exposed to the attacks of our enemies the Spaniards and Portuguese, but that 
trade could be carried on with sundry nations and people ; colonists transported, and plantations 
of various products promoted, from which advantages could be derived equal to those our 
aforesaid enemies have realized since many years, to the strengthening considerably of the 
King of Spain's finances. And in case of delay or ill success, it was expected to make good a 
portion of the loss, by going to Punta del Rey for salt; but in consequence of the tedious 
negotiations with the North quarter, we are entirely cut off by the enemy from the Salt Trade at 
the Punta; and as regards general trade, experience has now made us wiser, and shown, 
that the proposition is founded on grounds altogether too weak ; and that the trade with 
those nations and people, who still remain independent of the King of Spain, is very meager 
and trifling; and that the countries, yet uninvaded, are for the most part of little 
consequence and unproductive, or if good and fruitful, are very difficult of cultivation, especially 
for our people, who, being unaccustomed to so hot a climate, can with great difficulty 
betake themselves to agriculture; and being unprovided with slaves, and not used to the 
employment of them, cannot, like the Spaniards and Portuguese, supply through others, 
their own insufficiency. Moreover, the colonizing such wild and uncultivated countries, 
demands more inhabitants than we can well supply; not so much through lack of population, 
in which our provinces abound, as from the fact, that all who are inclined to do any sort of 
work here, procure enough to eat without any trouble; and are, therefore, unwilling to go far 
from home on an uncertainty; to this may be added, the doubt of being able to protect it, 



40 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

unless at greater and heavier expense than the returns are worth that may probably be derived 
from thence. But in order that you, High and Mighty, may be correctly informed herein, and 
understand the situation of the countries yet uninvaded by our enemies, we shall explain to 
you more particularly the extent and condition thereof, from one end of our boundaries in 
West India to the other. 

The limits granted to us by Your High Mightinesses, start from, or begin on the North at, 
Xova Francia, the bounds whereof were extended somewhat too far by the French ; so that 
they have even been inclined to dispute us New Netherland, which is the first country occupied 
and possessed by our people; and the Company, on that account, have suffered, of late years, 
notorious damage by reprisals. Now, this district, which we have named New Netherland, 
although it ought to be, in point of climate, as warm and as well adapted for the cultivation of 
fruits at least, as the furthest frontiers of France towards Spain; yet it has been found much 
colder, and as much subject to frost and other inconveniences as these; nay, as more northern 
countries. The people conveyed by us thither, have, therefore, found but scanty means of 
livelihood up to the present time ; and have not been any profit, but a drawback, to this 
Company. The trade carried on there in peltries, is right advantageous; but one year with 
another, we can, at most, bring home only Fifty thousand guilders. Proceeding more 
southerly, next comes Virginia, possessed by the English ; and Florida, so far as it has 
commercial advantages, by the Spaniards. For, although Florida is extensive, the places 
occupied by the Spaniards are few, and the harbors, even for middling ships, so rare that there 
is but very small probability of being able to execute anything advantageously there. The 
large Islands are settled by the Spaniards, etc. 

Exhibited 23 d October, 1629. 



Consideration-'} in regard to the Truce with Spain. 

[ From the Original in Ihe Eoyal Archives at the Hague ; File, West Indie. ] 

Extract of the Reasons and Considerations submitted by the Directors of the 
Incorporated West India Company to their High Mightinesses, the Lords 
States, in the present deliberation regarding the truce with the King of Spain. 
Exhibited the 16 Novemb., 1629. 

High and Mighty Lords, 

Although we are confident that you, High and Mighty, can in your usual wisdom, and will, 
pursuant to your special regard and favor for us, consider that the security and welfare of our 
beloved Fatherland is most intimately connected with the preservation and prosperity of our 
Company, yet we have deemed it our duty to lay, with all submission, before you, High and 
Mighty, in a summary manner, the principal points which, in these parts, ought to be taken 
into consideration. 

First: it is to be considered with what longing the Company has been expected, for many 
years, by all good Patriots at home, and all good wishers of our state abroad ; and how slowly 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: I. 41 

it has been brought to maturity, against numerous contradictions and countermines on the 
part of others. 

Secondly: that you, High and Mighty, have, of your own motion and unasked, incorporated 
your subjects, and promised, in the form of a mutual contract and reciprocal connection, to 
afford them every help in case of war, aud to maintain, in their integrity, all their contracts 
with foreigners. 

Thirdly: that thereupon, the Capital of this Company was wholly subscribed and sufficiently 
paid in, through the several efforts of the Directors appointed thereunto by you, High and 
Mighty, by such as you yourselves consider have most at heart the maintenance of the true 
Reformed religion and the liberties of our beloved Fatherland ; so that many have contributed 
abundantly thereunto even out of their poverty. 

Fourthly: that by means of this Company, even from its very incipiency, a great number 
of ships were partly purchased and parti}' chartered, which otherwise must have lain idle in 
consequence of the dullness of trade. 

Fifthly: that by means of the same, many large and small vessels, and especially, very fine 
and fast sailing yachts have been built, to the great increase of Navigation. 

Sixthly: that the number of our vessels has, from time to time, so much increased, that we 
have at present over one hundred full rigged ships, of various burthens, at sea, mostly fitted 
for war. 

Seventhly: that we have employed, from time to time, in said ships, a great number of 
seamen and soldiers, so that we had last year 9,000 men, and now, at present, full 15,000 in 
our service; whereby the people were wonderfully benefited; many experienced pilots formed, 
and so many educated, that the country can always find fit persons to be employed on board 
its ships as chief and subordinate officers. 

Eighthly: that we have victualled the aforesaid ships, some for 12, some for 15, and even 
many for IS months and more. 

Ninthly: that we have provided our ships so well with heavy guns, that we had, last year, 
on board our marine, full 264 metal pieces, amongst which were many demi-carthouns ; and 
nearly 1400 heavy swivels (goielingen), which number is much increased this year, so that 
we have at present over 400 metal pieces on board of our ships, and over 2000 swivels 
(gotelingen), besides pedereros to the number of far beyond 600. 

And finally: that we have provided them with a great quantity of powder, mostly 
manufactured in this country, so that we have expended, this year, on board our ships, over 
one hundred thousand pounds of powder. From all which it must at once be seen, what 
trade our equipments have created in this country; how many people we have employed, and 
with what a remarkable force we have increased Your High Mightinesses' navy, of which Y'our 
High Mightinesses can make use in time of need, as the Company's aid, without boasting, was 
particularly well timed in the last public difficulties. 

It is now to be further considered what wealth these, our ships, have brought into 
this country. 

First: omitting what has been imported these previous years in course of trade in gold, 
elephants' teeth, pepper, hides, peltries, timber, salt and such like ; the silver, coined and 
in bars, received in the beginning of this year, in consequence of the capture of the fleet from 
New Spain, amounted -to so great a treasure, that never did any fleet bring such a prize to this, 
or any other country. 

Vol. I. 6 



42 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Secondly : we have now, during some consecutive years, plundered the enemy and enriched 
this country with many large parcels of Indigo, so that over 4000 cases have been received at 
the close of the last, and the beginning of this year. 

Thirdly : a large quantity of Sugar, so that we have brought in, this year alone, three 
thousand chests. 

Fourthly : a wonderful large quantity of Raw hides, and have taken 36 m principally this year 
from the enemy. 

Fifthly : the handsomest lot of Cochineal that was ever brought into this country. 

Sixthly : a considerable quantity of Tobacco, which is now an important article of commerce. 

And finally, a vast amount of wealth in all sorts of precious stones, silk and silk goods, 

musk, amber, all sorts of drugs, Brazil and Log Wood and other wares, too numerous to 

mention here; so that we have already brought several millions into this country. All which 

wares, sold and distributed among the good inhabitants, were consumed here and conveyed 

elsewhere, and therefore enriched your High Mightinesses' subjects, and increased the revenue- 

The damage done thereby to our enemies, is easily estimated. We have, moreover, 

captured some even of the King of Spain's galeons, hitherto considered invincible, besides 

some other of his men of War, exclusive of more than two hundred ships and barks which 

we have taken from his subjects, and partly appropriated to our own use, and partly destroyed. 

Our ships and fleets also reduced, and for a time kept possession of, the rich and mighty city 

of St. Salvador, in Brazil ; sacked Porto Rico ; pointed out the way to seize its exceedingly 

enclosed harbors, and have destroyed the castle of Margrita. 

By all which acts have we not only drained the King of Spain's treasury, but also further 
pursued him at considerable expense. 
We say, exhausted his treasury — 

First, by depriving him of so much silver, which was as blood from one of the arteries of 
his heart. 

Secondly, by &c. 

Your High Mightinesses' 

Humble Servants, 

The Deputies of the Chartered West India 
Company at the Assembly of the XIX. 
( Signed ) Ant 6 Godin, Symon van der Does. 

Marcus van Valckenburch, de Moor, 

Jo 8 de Laet, Diederich Scherff, 

Pieterzons, Abraham Oyens, 

J. Van der Nyenburg, Wefrinck. 1 

1 The above document will be found entire in Aitzeina, Stoat en Oorlogh, folio, I., 902 ; 4to II., 912, where it ie signed by: 

RkYNIER REAEL, A. PlETERSONS, DlDRICH ScHERF, 

Antoni Godin, Gerrit van Ntburgh, Abraham Otens, 

I. de Laet, Symon Verdoes, Albert Wyffrinok. 

Marcus van Valckenburgh Johan de Moor, 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: I. 43 

Patent to Messrs. Oodyn and Blommaert for a Tract of land on Delaware Bay. 

[ From the Original ; and from the Becord in Book G G., in the office of the Secretary of State, Albany, N.T. ] 

We, the Director and Council in New Netherland, residing on the Island Manahatas and in 
Fort Amsterdam, under the authority of their High Mightinesses the Lords States General of 
the United Netherlands, and of the Incorporated West India Company, Chamber at Amsterdam, 
hereby acknowledge and declare, that on this day, the date underwritten, came and appeared 
before us, in their proper persons, Queskakous and Eesanques Siconesius, and the inhabitants 
of their village, situate at the South cape of the Bay of the South River, and freely and 
voluntarily declared, by special authority of the rulers and consent of the Commonalty there, 
that they already, on the first day of the month of June of the past year, 1629, for and on 
account of certain parcels of cargoes, which they, previous to the passing hereof, acknowledged 
to have received and got into their hands and power, to their full satisfaction, have transported, 
ceded, given over and conveyed in just, true and free property, as they hereby transport, cede, 
give over and convey to, and for the behoof of, Mess" Samuel Godin and Samuel Blommart, 
absent; and for whom We, by virtue of our office, under proper stipulation, do accept the 
same, namely: the Land to them belonging, situate on the South side of the aforesaid Bay, 
by us called The Bay of the South River, extending in length from C. Hinlopen off unto 
the mouth of the aforesaid South River, about eight leagues (groote mylcn), and half a league 
in breadth, into the interior, extending to a certain marsh (kcgte) or valley, through which 
these limits can be clearly enough distinguished. And that with all the action, right and 
jurisdiction to them in the aforesaid quality, therein appertaining, constituting and surrogating 
the said Mess" Godin and Blommaert in their stead, state, real and actual possession thereof; 
and giving them, at the same time, full and irrevocable authority, power and special command, 
to hold in quiet possession, occupancy and use, tanquam Actores et Procurators in rem 
propriam, the aforesaid land acquired by the above mentioned Mess" Godin and Blommaert, or 
those who may hereafter obtain their interest ; also to do, barter, and dispose thereof, as they 
may do with their own well and lawfully acquired lands. Without they, the Grantors, having, 
reserving, or retaining for the future, any, the smallest part, right, action or authority, whether 
of property, command or jurisdiction therein ; but now, hereby, for ever and a day desisting, 
retiring from, abandoning and renouncing the same for the behoof aforesaid ; promising further, 
not only to observe, fulfill and to hold fast, unbroken and irrevocable, this their conveyance, 
and whatever may be done in virtue thereof, but, also, the said parcel of land to maintain 
against every one and to deliver free of controversies, gainsays and contradictions, by 
whomsoever instituted against the same. All in good faith without guile or deceit. In 
Witness is this confirmed with our usual signature and with our seal dependant therefrom. 
Done on the aforesaid Island Manahatas, this fifteenth of July, XVI C and thirty. 

(Signed) Peter Minuit, Director, 

PlETEK ByLVELT, 

Jacob Elbertsen Wissinck, 
Jan Jansen Brouwer, 
Symon Dircksen Pos, 
Reyner Harmensen. 

Jan Lampe, 
Sheriff. 



44 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 



Patent to Kiliaen Van Rensselaer for a Tract of Land on Hudson's River. 

t From the authentic Transcript in the Royal Archives at the Hague ; File, West Indie. ] 

( L. B. ) 

Anno 1630, adi 13th of August. We, the Director and Council of New Netherland, residing 
on the Island Manhatas and in Fort Amsterdam, under the authority of their High Mightinesses 
the Lords States General of the United Netherlands and the Incorporated West India Company, 
Chamber at Amsterdam, do hereby acknowledge and declare, that on this day, the date 
under written, before us appeared and presented themselves in their proper persons : Kottomack, 
Nawanemit Albantzeene, Sagiskwa and Kanaomack, owners and proprietors of their respective 
parcels of land, extending up the River, South and North, from said Fort unto a little south of 
Moeneminnes Castle, to the aforesaid proprietors, belonging jointly and in common, and the 
aforesaid Nawanemit's particular land called Semesseerse, lying on the East Bank opposite 
Castle Island off unto the abovementioned Fort; Item, from Petanock, the Millstream, away 
North to Negagonse, in extent about three miles, and declared freely and advisedly for and on 
account of certain parcels of Cargoes, which they acknowledge to have received in their hands 
and power before the execution hereof, and, by virtue and bill of sale, to hereby transport, 
convey and make over to the Mr. Kiliaen van Rensselaer, absent, and for whom We, ex officio 
and with due stipulation, accept the same; namely: the respective parcels of land hereinbefore 
specified, with the timber, appendencies and dependencies thereof, together with all the action, 
right and jurisdiction to them the grantors conjointly or severally belonging, constituting and 
surrogating the said Mr. Rensselaer in their stead, state and right, real and actual possession 
thereof, and at the same time giving him full, absolute and Irrevocable power, authority and 
special command to hold, in quiet possession, cultivation, occupancy and use, tanquam actor et 
procurator in rem suam ac propriam, the land aforesaid, acquired by said Mr. Van Rensselaer, 
or those who may hereafter acquire his interest; also, to dispose of, do with and alienate it, as 
he or others should or might do with his other and own Lands and domains acquired by good 
and lawful title, without the grantors therein retaining, reserving or holding any, the smallest 
part, right, action or authority whether of property, command or jurisdiction, but rather, 
hereby, desisting, retiring and renouncing therefrom forever, for the behoof aforesaid; further 
promising this their conveyance and whatever may by virtue thereof be done, not only forever 
to hold fast and irrevocable, to observe and to fulfill, but also to give security for the surrender 
of the aforesaid land, obligans et renuncians a bona fide. In testimony is this confirmed by 
our usual signature, with the ordinary seal thereunto depending. Done at the aforesaid Island 
Manahatas and Fort Amsterdam, on the day and year aforesaid. Signed, Peter Minuit, 
Director; Pieter Bylvelt, Jacob Elbertss. Wissinck, Jan Jassen Brouwer, Symon Dirckss. Pos, 
Reyner Harmensen, Jan Lampe, Sheriff". 

There was, besides : This Conveyance written with mine own hand is, in consequence of 
the Secretary's absence, executed in my presence on the thirteenth day of August, XVP, and 
thirty, as above. Signed, Lenart Cole, Deputy Secretary. 

After collating with the Original, dated, signed and sealed as above, this Copy is found to 
agree with it. Amsterdam, the 5 th September, 1672. 

In testimony, (Signed) Adriaen Lock, 

Notaris Publ. 
1672. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: I. 45 

Subjects for the Consideration of the Assembly of the XIX. 

[ From the Original In the Royal Archives at the Hague ; File, West Indie. ] 

Points for Consideration on which all the Chambers of the West India Company 
are convoked for the 20 ,h March, 1632, at Amsterdam ; from which is 
extracted so much as relates to New Nethcrlaiid. 

14 lh Point. 

And observing the misconstructions which occur in the Freedoms and Exemptions to the 
Colonists, the adjourned members shall therefore come to resume the same and bring with 
them the lists of their receipt, together with the names of those, who are admitted as Planters. 

Exhibited 19 March, 1632. 



»■»♦»■» 



Mr. van Arnhem to the States General. 

[ From the Original in the Royal Archives at the Hague ; File, West Indie. ] 

High and Mighty Lords. 

The Directors of the West India Company have informed us that one of their ships, named 
de Eendracht, coming from New Netherland and touching at Plymouth, in England, was seized 
there; first, on pretence that the cargo of the ship was procured in the English Colonies; next, 
that the Company had appropriated some countries belonging to the English; notwithstanding 
said trade was prosecuted at such places in New Netherland; to wit, between the North 
and South Rivers; which have been always in the peaceable and uncontroverted possession of 
the Company; and those of said Company have never encroached on the English. Then, it is 
well to remark, that this intrigue was set on foot by the Spanish Ambassador in England; for, 
the Company is credibly informed, the said Ambassador will endeavor to lay claim to all their 
ships arriving there, in order thus by all possible means to obstruct said trade. Which cannot 
but cause great injury to the Company, and, consequently, to your High Mightinesses. 
Therefore, we cannot forbear hereby respectfully soliciting your High Mightinesses to be 
graciously pleased so to recommend these and similar matters which may occur in England, to 
your High Mightinesses' Ambassador and Delegate there, that they may afford the Company 
all favorable assistance herein; and, especially, in case the Earl of Carlisle (as he hath given 
out) may lay claim to the said Company's ships in regard to a certain Island of St. Martyn; 
maintaining that it was granted to him by the King, notwithstanding the aforesaid Earl never 
had any people there; but it was made use of by the Company. And here ending, we shall 
pray God to bless your High Mightinesses' government, and remain, 
High and Mighty Lords, 

Your High Mightinesses' humble Servants, 
From Amsterdam, the 5 th April, 1632. (Signed) G. van Arnhem. 

Received, 7 April, 1632. 



46 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

As M r Olikan is not here, and this must be closed, it is not signed by him. 

The address was as follows: 
The High and Mighty, 
Lords States General, 
of the United Netherlands, 
in 
The Hague. 



Resolution of the States General to write to their Ambassador in England. 

[From the Register of Resolutions of the States General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague,] 

Wednesday, 7 th April, 1632. 
Folio 216. Received a letter from Mr. Arnhem, their High Mightinesses' associate Delegate 

to the Assembly of the XIX., M r Olican absent, written at Amsterdam the 5 th inst., and 
seconded by the verbal petition of Mr. Adriaen Pieterson, Director of the aforesaid Company, 
in order to obtain letters to Ambassador Joachimi and Deputy Govert Brasser, with a view 
swp unity. that, through their intercession, the Ship Eendracht, coming from New Netherland 

and touching at Plymouth, in England, and there seized, should be again released and 
discharged ; which, being considered, it is hereby resolved and decided, to allow and grant the 
letters aforesaid in the best form. 



States General to their Ambassadors in England. 

[ From the Minute in the Royal Archives at the Ilague ; File, West Indie* ] 

To Mess" Joachimi and Brasser, their High Mightinesses' Ambassador and Deputy in 
England ; the 7 th April, 1G32. 

The States, etc. 

Honorable. The Directors deputed to the Assembly of the XIX. of the West India 
Company, at Amsterdam, have represented to us that the Ship Eendracht, on arriving at 
Plymouth, from New Netherland, was, by the Vice admiral and Captains of the Plymouth 
Castles, seized on the false information of the provost of said Ship, who was dissatisfied, 
because he could not have his earned wages paid to him there, (which he must first receive at 
Amsterdam) and of the Pilot, who, in opposition to the Director and Skipper, being on shore 
got married. But a settlement being had, with much difficulty, she was released again, and 
the aforesaid provost, having received his wages, went up to London, and before the ship 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: I. 47 

could depart, brought down a second arrest, in which the ship must remain and be yet detained 
with its freight, solely upon an untrue representation that the Peltries were bought within the 
jurisdiction or district belonging to his Majesty of Great Britain, whereas they were, on the 
contrary, bartered in New Netherland, under our resort and within the limits of the above 
named Company's charter, on the South and North Rivers, where there are not any English 
Colonies or Trading Posts. And whereas, by such arrest and detention, in direct contravention 
of the Articles of the Fifteen Years' union, and especially of the Concession of freedoms 
granted by his said Majesty to the above Company's Ships, said Company is most deeply 
prejudiced, and put to excessively great expense, such as loss of wages and consumption of 
stores, amounting, daily, to a large sum, besides the loss of the season for the sale of 
peltries, which go mostly to Russia, and could otherwise have been sold with the peltries 
already advertised. And, moreover, the crew of the aforesaid ship had so much the more time 
afforded them to take away, in violation of their oath, great quantities of the peltries belonging 
to the Company, and to convey the same stealthily into the interior, or elsewhere. Therefore, 
we cannot, neither must we, neglect to request and solicit you hereby, to do the Company 
such good offices and kindnesses with the King of Great Britain and other persons, if necessary, 
to the end that not only the aforesaid ship and goods may be immediately released from arrest, 
free of costs and damages, but, also, that order may be given that hereafter such unfounded 
attachments and impediments may be avoided, and the Company freed from such inconveniences, 
troubles and annoyances. And in case the aforesaid, or any other ship, may, in consequence 
of the unfounded pretensions of the Earl of Carlisle, be troubled about a certain Island, St. 
Martin, claimed to have been given him by the King; where, nevertheless, the said Earl never 
had any people, but which has been made use of by the above mentioned Company, you will, 
on the contrary, allege such reasons as you will consider most applicable in the premises. 

Relying on which, we commend you to God's protection. 

At the Hague, the 7 th April, 1632. 



■«..♦■.«■ 



Messrs. Joachimi and Brasser to the States General. 

[ From the Original, remaining in the Royal Archives at the Hague ; File, Engeland. ] 

High and Mighty Lords. 

My Lords. 

Let this despatch be Our last to your High Mightinesses, was of the 2S ,h of last month. Since then 

placed in the hands . i • i i ■ ■ t i tt- t m r , ,• 

of the Lords of we have complained through the Lord High Ireasurer, of the publication of the 

Heemstede and r o o r 

fn e ab 3 'ira n c t toTite 1 m- Book on the events at Amboina; and also, requested that his Lordship would 
wni^rlthMs'EjS prevent the exportation of warlike stores to the enemy ; setting forth the 
and*o7eport re Done advantage which this kingdom might, in time and place, derive therefrom. His 

1st May, 1632. (Sign- T , , . -j i i 1 • ■ 

ed) Cork, mosch, Lordship said, he had not given any consent to have the book printed; and that 

he well knew the Council had no knowledge of it. That the Bishop, or 

Secretaries, were in the habit of giving such licences; that he agreed with us, it were better 



48 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

omitted. But that such was permitted in the case of the East India Company, which is much 
dissatisfied, because it does not receive any satisfaction for the Amboina affair. And in regard 
to the export of warlike stores, that the Council had requested his opinion thereupon, in 
connection with his Majesty's finances, and that he had then disapproved thereof. We, 
nevertheless, have been, afterwards, informed that the exportation is permitted to Spain 
and Italy. His Lordship told us, among other things, that he had copy of the Instruction 
given to Don Gunsalva di Cordua, from Spain, to the effect that he should proceed quietly in 
all other matters, except in regard to the reconciliation of the King with his mother and brother; 
that he should therein proceed zealously and earnestly. 

He also said, he had advice from the English Ambassador, resident in France, that such 
was the case; and having received no satisfaction therein, he had refused to accept a costly 
rapier from the King, and a certain present from the Queen. And his Lordship added, 
moreover, that he thought the first news we should receive from Spain, would, also, bring 
intelligence that the Spaniards from Catalonia had fallen on France; for which purpose great 
Naval preparations were making in the Mediteranean. 

We likewise addressed ourselves to Mr. Secretary Kooke, whom we found much excited in 
the India affair; and soon observed, that he had consented to the publication of the Book. 
His Lordship was so violent in the matter, that, when we afterwards spoke to him of Captain 
le Clercq's trial, and the wrong suffered therein, he gave us for answer, Amboina. When he 
complained of the proceedings of the Admiralty at Rotterdam, in the case of the owners of the 
Ship the Kint, (the Child); we answered thereunto, that we should afford his Lordship good 
satisfaction, whenever the complaint was laid before us. His Lordship hath since received 
the Seals of the Foreign affairs; so that, hereafter, all these matters will pass through his 
hands. We have congratulated his Lordship, and expressed our satisfaction that his Majesty 
had been pleased to employ him therein, as we were well aware that his Lordship was 
always disposed to maintain good correspondence between this kingdom and the United 
Countries. Indeed, his Lordship is, also, well disposed towards the Reformed religion, and not 
favorable to Spain; and labors strenuously to establish the English nation in trade and commerce. 
As all matters must henceforth pass through the hands of this gentleman, and the expeditions 
be advanced by him, your High Mightinesses will please to consider in your great wisdom, 
whether it would not be for your High Mightinesses' service to present him some token of 
courtesey on his entrance into office. Whatever your High Mightinesses resolve to apropriate 
thereto, may be paid here from the balance of the payment of 100,000 guilders which have 
begun to be disbursed, on account of the 650,000 for which Mr. Carleton signed; then, should 
there be a deficit of 3, 4 to 5, 1000 guilders, nothing, in our opinion, would be thought about 
it here. 

His Majesty being returned here on the first of April, we requested his answer to our 
proposals made at New Market, and, in addition, complained of the seizure since at Plymouth 
of a certain ship named the Eendracht, belonging to the West India Company, and now coming 
from New Netherland, where your High Mightinesses' subjects have long peaceably traded, 
and, moreover, many years ago planted a colony on a certain island named Manathans, situate 
on the river also of the same name, which they purchased from the native inhabitants and 
paid for. That your High Mightinesses' said subjects had hitherto, in going and coming, 
peaceably made use of the harbors of England, without opposition from any quarter, and that 
a ship coming from thence, was now seized for having traded within his Majesty's territories. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: I. 49 

The King answered us distinctly on every particular ; saying, that the affair of Captain le 
Clercq, was, in itself, a trifle ; but that he, moreover, well knew that the matters were, in 
principle, of great importance. That he, therefore, will fully inform himself about the bringing 
in the prizes taken from our enemies, and give us an answer thereupon afterwards; that he 
should also take further information relative to the damage inflicted on us by our enemies, in 
his roads and harbors. That he had appointed Commissioners to confer with us on the subject 
of the published books. And, regarding the detention of the ship the Eendracht, that his 
governor at Plymouth had advised him of it, and that he was informed that your High 
Mightinesses had, heretofore, on his father's complaint, interdicted your inhabitants from 
trading to those parts. But he added, moreover, that he could not positively say what the 
circumstances of the case were. Then, that he should take further information thereon ; and 
as we urged the provisional release of the ship, his Majesty said, he could not do that so 
long as he was not certain of his right. Which answer of his Majesty, though expressed in 
polite terms and with a friendly disposition, did not please us, because the subject of the free 
use of the harbors was thereby postponed to the great prejudice of your High Mightinesses and 
your inhabitants; also, because his Majesty had appointed Commissioners to speak with us about 
the publishing of the books on Amboina, which we could not but suspect was designedly done 
to bring up the Amboina question before us on that occasion, with a view to require satisfaction 
therefor, and meanwhile to keep everything in suspense. We were afterwards confirmed in 
this opinion, because the Lord High Treasurer pretended ignorance of the aforesaid seizure, 
which, however, was made by order of the Commissioners of the Admiralty, whereof his 
Lordship is the first: Moreover, being desirous to speak about it on another occasion to 
his Lordship, he let us know that Secretary Kooke had orders to give us an answer; coming to 
the said Kooke, we understood from him that he had heard nothing iu the world about ' 
this matter. 

We cannot make up our minds to attend the meeting of the Commissioners, for we are not 
instructed, nor provided, for the Amboina affair, as we have stated at length in our previous 
letter to my Lord, the Prince of Orange. Meanwhile, we all foresee that the farther things 
go here, the worse they will become. 

A certain public officer here informed us, that, having understood the Council would meet 
on the 4 lh inst., and intending to promote his own interest, he went to speak to one of the 
members about it; from whom he understood that his case would not be taken up, but that 
the Council would examine an important question, namely; whether the King of Great Britain 
had a right to forbid all foreigners to catch herring in his seas. We are not advised of the 
result of the consultation; but according to the information furnished us by the above mentioned 
gentleman, the Lord of the Council stated to him, at the same time, that his Majesty was of 
opinion he had the power and was at liberty to do so. All this is the effect of Spanish 
intrigue, which, we fear, will proceed further. We cannot perceive that his Majesty is 
indisposed towards us ; sed qui pro nobis intercedat nemo est, because we have neither Saints 
nor Festivals, wherein the Spanish nation is very superstitious. 

We are still awaiting the papers on Amboina, as well as those relating to the moneys voted 
by your High Mightinesses, which we heretofore most humbly requested might be sent to us. 

Your High Mightinesses will be pleased to send us, at the same lime, everything in support 
of the right of Your High Mightinesses' inhabitants to trade in New Netherland, inasmuch as 

Vol. I. 7 



50 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

that will, without doubt, be most sharply disputed here. The ship the Eendracht has over five 
thousand beaver skins on board. 

The Resident Carleton and M r Boshuil, 1 who is to reside near your High Mightinesses in the 
place of the former, have been to visit us, and notified us that they are about to take their 
departure, presenting their service. Finally, they requested that we should recommend your 
High Mightinesses to furnish the aforesaid Boshuil with a free house, and that your High 
Mightinesses would be pleased to interpose a word in favor of the aforenamed Carleton's 
family, that they may remain a month or more after May in the old house. The above named 
Boshuil hath the reputation here of being a very honest man, and, especially, that he is well 
inclined to maintain good correspondence between his Majesty and Your High Mightinesses. 
We submit to Your High Mightinesses' wisdom and discretion, whether or not you will furnish 
him with a free house. We shall merely observe thus much, that, if not done, it will again 
lay open the wound of the refused seat in the Council, and be interpreted as having been done 
through disrespect for his Majesty, whose agents have, heretofore, been supplied by your High 
Mightinesses with a free house. 

Sir Bronckhorst has also waited on us, saying that he understood your High Mightinesses 
were making new levies. And as he had a commission to raise a regiment, he requested us, 
whenever your High Mightinesses were enlisting new forces, to acquaint your High 
Mightinesess of his offer to raise a regiment and to take it over at his own expense. 

We were afterwards informed that application would be made for permission to convey to 
Dunkirk a large quantity of Saltpeter, which has arrived from India. And herewith, 
commending ourselves, most respectfully, to your High Mightinesses' good graces, we shall 
continually pray Almighty God, High and Mighty Lords, that he may bless Your High 
Mightinesses' wise government more and more. 

Your High Mightinesses' 
i Most humble and 

The 10 lh April, 1632 ; Most faithful servants, 

Stylo novo. In London. (Signed) Alb. Joachimi. 

Received 1 May, 1632. Govert Brasser. 



West India Company to the States General. 

[ From the Original in the Boyal Archives at the Hague ; File, West Indie. ~\ 

To the High and Mighty Lords States General of the United Netherlands. 

High and Mighty Lords. 

We have heretofore complained to your High Mightinesses that our ship the Eendracht, 
coming from New Netherland, laden with peltries, &c, was detained at Plymouth by his 
Majesty's command, under pretence that our people had traded in countries claimed to belong 
to his aforesaid Majesty. 

1 Boswell. — Ed. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: I. 51 

Whereupon your High Mightinesses were pleased to instruct your Ambassador and 
Commissioner to prosecute, vigorously, the discharge of the said ship and goods. 

Now, we have received a letter signed by Your Higli Mightinesses' Ambassador and 
Commissioner, dated London the 10 th April, stil : nov:, by which we are advised as follows : 

On the third instant, Pieter Minuit of Wesel, Director on behalf of your Company in New 
Netherhind and Jan Lampo of Cantelhergh, Sheriff on the Island Manhattes, came to us here 
and informed us that, on arriving with your ship, named the Ecndracht, in the port of 
Plymouth, were there arrested for having traded in countries under the King of Great Britain's 
jurisdiction. We thereupon complained to his Majesty; related the circumstances of the case, 
and requested that the aforesaid ship may be provisionally released. His Majesty said, that he 
had been advised thereof by his governor of Plymouth, and had been informed that, on a former 
complaint, by his father, to their High Mightinesses, of their inhabitants having traded to 
those Countries, their High Mightiness had forbidden them so to do ; but he did not know 
precisely what the circumstances were, and would inform himself further of it; And, 
notwithstanding our repeated demand for the provisional release of the ship, bis Majesty was 
pleased, on the contrary, to persist, being first desirous to obtain information as to the nature 
of his right. We addressed ourselves, with a similar view, to some Lords of the Council, and 
received substantially the same answer. 

Wherefore, we have deemed it to be our duty to inform your High Mightinesses that, 
subsequent to the first discovery, by your subjects in the year 1609, of the North River, 
■ (commonly called the Manhattos, also Rio de Montaigne and North river,) and after some of 
your inhabitants had resorted thither, in the year 1610 and following years, your High 
Mightinesses had finally, in the year 1615, granted some of your inhabitants a charter to trade 
to those countries, to the exclusion of all other persons, and that they established a fort and 
garrison there, which were maintained until the charter granted to the West India 
Company included these and other countries. That in the year 1606, his Majesty of Great 
Britain granted to his subjects by special charter, South and North of this aforesaid river, 
under the names of New England and Virginia, on the express condition, that the respective 
incorporated parties should remain one hundred miles apart from each other, and leave so much 
between them both. 

Whereupon, the English began, about the year 1607, to settle by the river Sagadahoc, which 
settlement was again afterwards abandoned, and no new plantation undertaken by the English 
north of New Netherland, before the year 1620, when one, which they called New Plymouth, 
was commenced behind Cape Cod. 

The English themselves, according to their charter, place New England on the coast between 
the forty-first and forty-fifth degrees of latitude. 

But the English began in the year 1606, to resort to Virginia, which is South of our territory 
of New Netherland, and fix the boundaries, according to their charter, from the thirty-seventh 
to the thirty-ninth degree. 

So that our boundaries, according to their own shewing, should be from the thirty-ninth 
degree inclusive, to the forty-first degree, within which bounds we are not aware that they 
ever undertook any plantation. 



52 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

What boundaries your Higli Mightinesses have granted to your subjects, can be seen by the 
charter issued in the year 1615, which your High Mightinesses will please cause to be 
looked into. 

We have not the slightest knowledge of his Majesty's further allegation respecting the 
demand made by hi3 father, and the result thereof. 1 

In order to execute this business effectually, your High Mightinesses will be pleased to have 
this examined, and cause your High Mightinesses' Ambassador to be duly informed thereof, 
and to order the release of our ship and goods to be prosecuted and obtained. 

It is further to be remarked : that inasmuch as the inhabitants of those countries are freemen, 
and neither his Britannic Majesty's, nor your High Mightinesses' subjects, they are free to 
trade with whomsoever they please. 

That his Majesty may likewise, in all justice, grant his subjects by charter the right to 
trade wilh any people, to the exclusion of all others, his subjects, as your High Mightinesses 
have a right to do by yours. 

But, that it is directly contrary to all right and reason, for one potentate to prevent the 
subjects of another to trade in countries whereof his people have not taken, nor obtained 
actual possession from the right owners, either by contract or purchase. 

Much more, to lay claim to countries of which your High Mightinesses' subjects have 
acquired the property, partly by confederation with the owners of the lands, and partly 
by purchase. 

And many other reasons which your High Mightinesses' wisdom will better suggest, for the 
maintenance of your sovereignty and the freedom of trade by sea, and alliances with distant 
nations, who are not, naturally, the subjects, nor have become the property, of any other person, 
by conquest. 

Exhibited 5 May, 1632. 



Folio 280. 
West Iii'lla 



Resolution of the States General on the preceding Letter. 

[ From the Register of the Resolutions of the States General, In the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Wednesday, the 5 ,h May, 1632. 
On the complaint of the West India Company, to the effect that their ship, the 
sh',>K.''iir a ciiL Ecndrncht, coming from New Netherland, laden with peltries, &c, is seized at 
Plymouth by the King's command, and that his Majesty questioned the said Company's right 
to trade to the aforesaid New Netherland. It is, after previous deliberation, resolved and 
concluded, that Ambassador Joachimi and Deputy Brasser shall be written to, that they use 
and exert all possible means to have the aforesaid ship released from arrest, and the West India 
Company in future saved from all similar annoyances, and that the Deduction communicated 
by the Deputies of the abovementioned Company in attendance on their High Mightinesses, 
be sent to the said Ministers to justify the trade to the aforesaid New Netherland. 

'See post, III., 6. — Ed. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: I. 53 

States General to their Ambassadors in England. 

[ From the Minule in the Koyal Arc-hires at the Hague ; File, Engtlunil.] 

To Mess" Joachimi and Brasser, tlie 5 ,h May, 1G32. 

The States, etc. 
We are sorry to understand from the Directors of the West India Company, that the Ship 
Bhipthe Rendracht the Eendracht, coming from New Netherland, laden with peltries, etc. and seized 

liom New Nether- ^ r 

lul "'- by the King's order, has not been yet released. And although we, in no wise, 

doubt your hearty zeal and duty, yet are we unwilling to stand idle; you are therefore again 
admonished to exert and exercise all possible means for the release of the aforesaid ship, and 
that the merchant-men of the West India Company may in future be saved from such like 
annoyances. And in justification of the trading of said Company to the aforesaid New 
Netherland, the said Directors have communicated to us the annexed Deduction, to which 
we have appended copy of a certain Charter, granted by us on the 14 ,h Octob. 1014, to some 
private inhabitants of this country, to resort to New Netherland. By all these we intend, that 
the right of the aforesaid Company to trade to New Netherland must be maintained. You will 
add thereunto such reasons and motives as you shall judge pertinent, according to circumstances. 

Done the 5 th May, 1632. 



Ifessrs. Joachimi and Brasser to the States General. 

[ From the Original, in the Royal Archives at the Hague ; File, Engeland. ] 

High and Mighty Lords. 

In our despatch of the 27 ,h April, My Lords, we gave your High Mightinesses communication 
of our transactions with his Majesty's Commissioners. Since then, we endeavored by all 
possible diligence, to obtain a written answer to our last proposal communicated to his Majesty, 
containing, in brief, the substance of both the preceding. Thereupon, the marked ' writing 
annexed was brought to our house yesterday, by Mr. Secretary Kooke; notwithstanding we, a 
little while previously, had sent for it. The reasons for his handing it himself to us, were, we 
think, two. 

First, to understand, on this occasion, from us, what secret negotiations were going on with 
France; for he began his conversation with an expostulation, saying that we had, in appearance, 
fully communicated to his Majesty the subject of the embassy to France, but that we had 
carefully withheld the most essential point thereof from his Majesty; that all the world was 
aware, that greater matters had been treated of than had been communicated to his Majesty; 
that in the time of Queen Elizabeth, we would have been more careful, &c. We answered, 

1 Aengeteyckende is the Dutch word; it is doubtless an error for ongeteeckend, unsigned, which is the word used in the 
Ambassador's next despatch. — Ed. 



54 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

that Mr. Vosbergen was not charged with what, report says, has since been negotiated with 
France; that we had no knowledge in the world of it; that being, apparently, matters 
concerning the direction of the war, his Majesty had no reason to take it ill, that it was kept 
secret until completed ; with which answer the Secretary seemed somewhat satisfied. 

The second reason why he wished to speak to us on the delivery of the answer was, we 
think, to communicate to us, in addition, the internal meaning of the answer; namely, that 
the intent is, that like satisfaction shall be given by parties on both sides for every thing; 
that is to say, satisfaction shall be given for what passed at Amboina; otherwise, we cannot 
expect that any regard will be paid to our complaints ; for, indeed, matters here are so situated 
that we are in great doubt whether or not we shall press for his Majesty's declaration, that 
your High Mightinesses' subjects shall be at liberty to bring their captured prizes in and out 
again of his Majesty's harbors; for we know, that so long as this stumbling block be not 
removed, every thing shall turn to our prejudice. 

Regarding the Amboina affair: whilst it pleased your High Mightinesses to commit the 
direction thereof to his Lordship the Prince of Orange and some of the members of your High 
Mightinesses Assembly, we repeatedly wrote on the subject to the Prince and represented at 
full length and breadth, in what position the affair, in our judgment, stood here. Your High 
Mightinesses will please to remind the gentlemen to whom this affair was committed, to 
prosecute the aforesaid affair with all diligence; for otherwise, more or less danger is to be 
expected from this quarter. We send your High Mightinesses, herewith, copies of said 
proposal and answer. The aforesaid answer did not contain any mention of the trial of 
Captain le Clercq. Apparently from considerations before mentioned, this affair was dragging 
along to the exceeding great inconvenience of your High Mightinesses' subjects who, 
meanwhile, dare not approach his Majesty's harbors with their prizes; whereby many, either 
through stress of weather, have perished, or through inability to wait for a convoy, have fallen 
into the enemy's hands; as has happened, even within four days, to a certain privateer who 
had a good prize with him; understanding, off Plymouth, that Captain le Clercq's ship lay there 
still seized, he dare not enter the harbor, and both ship and prize fell into the hands of 4 
Dunkirkers. These Dunkirkers, it is reported, are expressly instructed to keep themselves 
west of the needle, in order that our ships, not daring to enter the harbors here, might fall into 
their mouths. It is to be remarked, that the trial of Captain le Clercq is of great consequence, 
as 'twill be a beacon to all those who shall have made any prizes on the enemy, to determine 
whether or not they are to have the privilege of entering the harbors of this kingdom. We, 
therefore, requested your High Mightinesses heretofore, in our dispatches of the 2S tb March 
and 17 lh April last, to advise us how we should act in case judgment was rendered against the 
said Captain; requesting, also, most respectfully, that the aforesaid order might be sent over 
to us by the earliest opportunity. We apprehend another difficulty in this matter; namely, 
that the Captain's owners, weary of the long and useless proceeding, incline to settle with their 
adversaries; which, as regards your High Mightinesses, is almost as prejudicial as the loss of 
the suit; for your High Mightinesses' inhabitants understanding that, will not dare to 
enter the harbors. We do not fail to encourage the owners, and to dissuade them from that 
course; but do not know how far desperation may drive them. We have, therefore, 
concluded to suggest to your High Mightinesses, whether it were not better for the State 
to negotiate rather with the owners, and to assume the stock for the public, it being 
well understood, as 'tis said, that the owners cannot be any longer kept from agreeing with 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: I. 55 

the opposite party. It is of the highest importance to our enemy that this matter be settled 
by arrangement, though their inhabitants should derive but little advantage thereby, for 
reasons already stated. The aforesaid owners arc also much importuned thereunto. Your 
High Mightinesses, in your profound wisdom, will best understand what ought to be done in 
this matter. We shall most respectfully await your commands, and will most dutifully and 
faithfully obey them. 

Regarding the inquiry about the little ship taken near the Recolvers, we do not, and cannot 
think what is wanting. The long delay in sending that over, does your High Mightinesses' 
affairs here no good. 

Lieutenant Colonel Ashley has requested us to inform your High Mightinesses, that he has 
gone hence, by express orders from his Majesty, to the King of Sweden ; that if your High 
Mightinesses require him to join his regiment, he shall do so immediately; he intends to 
convey his Majesty's final resolution to his Ambassador, Lord Faen, and entertains no doubt 
but the subsidy of ]00 m guilders a month will be paid from here to the King of Sweden. 

His Majesty seems resolved to dotate his niece, the Duke of Lenox's daughter, and to give 
her in marriage to the Lord High Treasurer's son, whose oldest sister is married to the Earl 
of Arundel's eldest son. The Treasurer will be not a little strengthened by this connexion with 
his Majesty's next of kin, and the friendship between him and the Earl of Arundel, which is 
considerable, will apparently be further increased. The aforesaid High Treasurer's son goes 
by the first opportunity to Savoy, with a message of condolence on the death of the late 
Duke ; as the Earl of Lycester goes to the King of Denmark to condole on the death of his 
Majesty's wife's mother. 

And herewith, commending ourselves, most humbly, to Your High Mightinesses' good 
graces, we will pray God Almighty, High and Mighty Lords, that He may bless your High 
Mightinesses' wise government more and more. 

Your High Mightinesses 

Most obedient and 

Most faithful servants, 
In London, this 23 d May, 1632. (Signed) Alb: Joachimi. 

Stylo, novo. Govert Brasser. 



Remonstrance of the Ambassadors of the States General, to King Charles I. 

[ From the MS. in the Koyal Archives at the Hague ; File, entitled Engdand. 1682. ] 

To the Most Serene King of Great Britain, &c. 

Sire 

In the audience which it pleased Your Sacred Majesty to give us at Newmarket, we 
represented that their Lordships, the Slates General, our Masters, aware that the enemy 
labored to foment some misunderstanding between Your Sacred Majesty and their Lordships, 
endeavoring, for that purpose, to create a belief that their Lordships did not entertain the 
respect due to Your Sacred Majesty, and even that they leaned more towards some other Prince 



56 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

than towards Your Majesty, had deemed it necessary to send expressly to Your Sacred 
Majesty to assure you of their respect for Your person, and of the affection they bore Your 
Majesty's Sacred Person and State, and to pray you not to condescend to lend an ear to such 
like calumnies, which, tending only to disturb an existing union, they have the greater cause 
to fear. That, in confirmation of the respect our said Lords cherish for Your Sacred Majesty, 
they had been pleased to communicate to Your Majesty the subject of the embassy they had 
sent to France, and that they had, on the earliest notice, ordered that the vessel be sent back 
which their Captains had captured near Roculvers ; they pray the affection they entertain for 
Your Sacred Majesty may be measured by that they manifest towards your nearest of kin. 

We besought your Majesty, Sire, thereupon to be pleased to continue to our Masters the 
honor of Your good graces, and to treat them as good neighbors, friends and allies, by causing 
our enemies to give up the vessels they have captured, and especially that it please Your 
Majesty to put an end to all seizures and prohibitions against the prizes taken from our enemies 
at sea, being brought into your Majesty's harbors, such being contrary to the law of Nations 
and the universal law and practice of all the princes of Europe, and contrary even to the 
constitution of Your Kingdom and the practice of Your ancestors, and even of Your Majesty, 
and finally, to give order for the delivery to Captain le Clercq, of the prize he captured from 
our enemy fourteen months ago. 

We complained also, Sire, of the publication of two certain books, the tendency whereof is 
only to excite the temper of one people against the other, a result altogether contrary to that 
desired by our Masters. 

Your Majesty was pleased to defer an answer to the foregoing, until you should have 
returned to the city of London. Wherefore, Sire, we most respectfully approach Your Sacred 
person, that you may be pleased to give us such a reply as may contribute to a firm union 
between the two States, so profitable to both. The happy accession of Your Majesty to Your 
crown, which we this day celebrate, induces us to hope, Sire, that Your Majesty will render 
us this day happy, by the assurances to our Masters of your affection for them. We pray God 
that Your Majesty may see many returns of the same day. 

Moreover, Sire, we cannot conceal from Your Majesty that we are very sorry to hear that 
whilst we labor to cement the good correspondence between Your Sacred Majesty and their 
Lordships the States, your subjects, on the other hand, create new difficulties. 

Thus it is, that the subjects of their Lordships, the States, have, for a long time, traded in 
the river Manathans, now called Maurice, in the West Indies, having purchased from the native 
inhabitants and paid for a certain island called also Manathans, where they remain surrounded 
on all sides by the Natives of the country, and have, from all time, in coming and going, freely 
enjoyed your Majesty's ports and harbors without any objection. 

Now it has happened, that a vessel belonging to the West India Company, and coming from 
the said island, with quite a number of people, their wives and children on board, arrived at 
Plymouth harbor through stress of weather, where she has been seized with very great 
inconvenience to the said people. 

Wherefore, Sire, we most humbly pray your Majesty to be pleased to give order that the 
ship be released, so that the said people may terminate their voyage. 

[Found as an appendix to the despatch of Mess" Joachimi and Brasser, received ll ,h 
June, 1633.] 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS : I. 57 

Answer to the Remonstrance of the Dutch Ambassadors. 

[ From the MS. in Ihe Royal Archives at the Hague ; File entitled, Engdand. 1632. ] 

Answer to the Remonstrance presented to the King and the Lords, his 
Commissioners, by their Lordships the Ambassador and Deputy of the 
Lords States General of the United Provinces, in April, 1G32. 

First: as regards the occasion of this Remonstrance, which is founded on the suspicion of 
some misunderstanding, it cannot but appear strange to his Majesty who could not imagine, 
by any indication, except by this Remonstrance, that there had been evil designed attempts 
made with a view to disunion, nor that offence had been taken to the respect shown by the 
said Lords the States to other princes. For although his Majesty might well claim for himself 
the preference in the balance of their esteem, he would not object to the good understanding 
they cultivate with their other friends, confident that they are in a position to weigh well in 
their prudence how much more advantageous is their union with him to that with others. 
Now, inasmuch as they have sent expressly to assure his Majesty of the respect and affection 
they bear him, the attention they have manifested therein is deserving all praise. These pains 
cannot indeed be too great to preserve such a treasure as they possess in the friendship of his 
Majesty and his subjects, their antient friends and good neighbors. And the consideration of 
that respect towards his Majesty, afforded by the communication of the contents of their last 
despatch to France, furnishes, indeed, an evidence of their confidence without, in the least, 
prejudicing their affairs ; and were this frankness continued, it would, without doubt, have 
dissipated all those pretended clouds of disaffection and distrust. 

As regards the restoration which they have made of the vessel captured near Reculvers by 
one of their ships (mention whereof is made in the second Article) that also deserves praise, 
as the result of their justice, especially if the first delinquent had been punished and had 
made reparation for the losses and damages they have been always accustomed to demand and 
sue for in such case, which also should properly be made to prevent the recurrence of 
such depredations. 

In the third place: as regards the representation to his Majesty of the friendship they have 
manifested to his nearest relatives; although these personally are well worthy thereof, and may 
well merit it, yet his Majesty always willingly shares and feels an interest in whatever concerns 
the beloved persons of his brother and sister, and hopes that the Lords States will not have 
cause to repent of the kind offices they have done them, which his Majesty acknowledges with 
thanks and a cordial affection towards them. 

Now, the object of this Remonstrance is to demand of his Majesty a continuation of his 
favor, and that particularly in the following points: 

1 st : To cause their enemies to restore, with reparation of damages, their vessels which 
they captured in his Majesty's ports and rivers specified, to the number of five. To this we 
are enabled to answer, that his Majesty's Agent has earnesly prosecuted this affair in their 
behalf, and has now rendered an account of his proceedings in that regard, communication 
whereof will be given them, in order that they may advise what will be necessary to be 
done therein. 

Vol. I. 8 



58 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

2 d To release from seizure the prizes taken by their people at sea from their enemies, and 
brought into our harbors. Herein, we confess that they presuppose many things which do not 
appear clear to us, particularly the allegation that this proceeding is contrary to the law of 
nations, which many learned jurisconsults do not hold, and there are few of the opposite 
opinion ; nay, even they, themselves, will confess that the decision of this point is not clear, 
as well as that wherein they say, that it is contrary to the practice of all other princes, which, 
nevertheless, is refuted by several instances. And although the puissant Kings of France 
and Spain have prided themselves on this practice, their individual laws, however, do not 
constitute the public law. As regards ours, our civilians are in doubt on the matter, and do 
not furnish an instance of this case wherein there is not some difference. Moreover, other 
considerations present themselves in this connection, of such consequence, that though we 
would desire to hold the balance even, without prejudicing either the one or the other, yet the 
difficulty of the matter may excuse the postponement of the resolution in what relates to 
the interests of all our allies, and which must stand as a general and permanent rule. 

They require, likewise, the suppression of two books, lately published to embitter, say they, 
the animosities between the subjects of the two states, contrary to what they deserved. To 
this it may be replied, that nothing save the balm of justice can heal ulcerated hearts. This 
his Majesty has waited for a long time with great patience, and should a denial or a delay of 
this be persisted in, not only will the King and people, but the whole world, complain 
of such misdeeds, and demand redress at their hands. 

In the fourth and last place, they demand the release of a vessel seized at Plymouth, returning 
from a certain plantation usurped by them in the north parts of Virginia, which they say was 
acquired from the natives of the country. But, first, it is denied that the Indians were 
possessore* bona Jidei of those countries, so as to be able to dispose of them either by sale or 
donation, their residences being unsettled and uncertain, and only being in common ; and in the 
second place, it cannot be proved, de facto, that all the Natives of said country had contracted 
with them at the said pretended sale. 

And as to what they say in addition, that the said Natives have their residences around 
them, the truth is, that the English encompass them on the one side and on the other, as they 
well experienced heretofore when they attempted to maintain their right against them. But, 
moreover, the right his Majesty's subjects have in that country, is justified by first discovery, 
occupation and the possession which they have taken thereof, and by the concessions and 
letters patents they have had from our Sovereigns, who were, for the above reasons, the true 
and legitimate proprietors thereof in those parts, where their Lordships, the States, had not 
of themselves and did not assume, such pretension, and had not granted any patent thereof to 
their subjects, to give them any power or title thereunto. Which turned out to be the case 
(se verlfia), in the year 1621, when the late King of happy memory, on the complaint and 
remonstrance of the Earl of Arundel Sirs Fer. Gorges and Samuel Argal, and of Captain 
Mason, instructed his Ambassador to apply to the Lords States General to prevent the 
departure of certain ships that were preparing to go to the said country, and to forbid 
the intrusion of their subjects into that plantation; for, then they answered, that they knew 
nothing of that enterprize, which was likewise very probable, because the said Ambassador after 
informing himself more particularly of the matter, certified his Majesty by those letters, that it 
was only two companies of Amsterdam merchants, who, whithout the knowledge or advice of the 
said Lords States, had begun to trade between the 40 th and 50 th degrees, within the limit of 
his Majesty's plantation in the said country of Virginia, and had given to those places the name 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: I. 59 

of New Netherland, Texel, Vlieland, and such like, and sent ships of 30 and 40 lasts to look for 
furs in those parts; but that he was not aware that they had begun or designed to establish 
a plantation there; and, moreover, that a good number of families, inhabiting the United 
Provinces, were then soliciting him to procure them a place in the said country where they might 
settle among his Majesty's subjects, that if these who are now returned thence, and the others 
who have remained behind, wish to make a similar request and to submit themselves to his 
Majesty's government, as his subjects, it can be ascertained if he will be pleased to admit them 
in that quality, and thus permit them to leave with their ships and merchandise, or else to sell 
these here at the highest rate possible; on condition that the said Lords States promise to 
prevent them going any more to, or frequenting in any manner those parts. Should they not 
consent to that, his Majesty's interest will not permit him to suffer them to usurp and encroach 
on, in this manner, one of his Colonies of such importance, which he has great cause to cherish 
and maintain entire. 

By these answers to the said complaint, their Lordships, the States, may see what little 
cause they have of supposing, in his Majesty, any alienation towards his neighbours ; but we, 
on our side, make many complaints much more serious and more grave than those; the said 
Lords States having never offered suitable satisfaction, can well imagine that nothing but 
discontent can remain in his Majesty's breast. 

For, without mentioning the crying fact, which it is unnecessary to discuss further, the 
extreme injustice they have been guilty of in regard to the Tare had quasi banished all our 
trafic from their country, had not some moderation been obtained by the yielding and 
accommodation on our side, and not by any mitigation on their part, who retain always the 
power to extort hereafter, whatever they please in this regard. 

There also continues to be another great complaint with the Board for the depredation and 
destruction of his Majesty's subjects in Greenland; the reparation ordered by his late Majesty 
for that, remains always unfurnished. 

And to pass over all the other complaints, which daily increase, the course they have 
pursued in regard to this ship belonging to his Majesty's subjects, now detained by process at 
Rotterdam, exceeds all those that can justly be adduced against us, as will evidently be 
manifest to them by the relation of the fact, which will shortly be laid before them. In fine, 
this is the true statement of the complaints, presented on the one side and on the other. They 
complain of damages received from their enemies, the reparation whereof they demand of us; 
and of some trifling detentions at our hands which, we say and consider, are well founded; but 
we complain of their injustice, committed as well against the goods as against the lives of his 
Majesty's subjects; of having wronged us in our trade; of having dispossessed us of divers 
countries in the East and West Indies, where our right was indubitable. And if, in fine, in 
the excess of the evil, those violences explode, as they appear to apprehend, the remedy which 
ought to be applied, on the one side and on the other, is, first: to bring about a termination of 
those evils by a better administration of justice; and then, to reestablish by mutual good 
offices, that ancient friendship which augmented, and can preserve, both their commerce 
and security. 

As for us, we shall not fail to render therein all the best offices and services dependent on 
us. And as regards his Majesty, the good and gracious disposition of his heart is sufficiently 
notorious to them and to all the world. 

[Found as an appendix to the despatch of Mess" Joachimi and Brasser, of 23 d May, 1632.] 



g0 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Messrs. Joachimi and Brasser to the States General. 

[From the Original ia the Royal Archives at the Hague ; Pile, Engelani. ] 

High and Mighty Lords. 

My Lords, 

Thia and the letter We sent your High Mightinesses, on the 23 d inst., a certain unsigned 1 writing. 

*", J"rr r piaced e fn handed to us on the day before by Secretary Kooke. We have since addressed 

the hiinJs of Mr. J \ .„..„,. 

vosiwr tt en, to ex- t h e sa jd Secretary and complained of the contents thereof, consisting of nothing 

tract the points of ^ r o <j 

importance there- b ut re t rts in place of satisfaction ; we also especially demanded that we should 
January, iS™ 6 " receive an answer in the name of his Majesty, to whom we submited our 
Musch. d ) i632. Con " proposals, or that at least it might be expressly stated who those were who gave 
the answer, and that it might be signed by him as Principal Secretary of State. He evinced 
much scruple therein, not daring to take back with him the said writing to submit it to the 
Lords Commissioners, but requested us to speak to the Lord High Treasurer about it, as we 
have done. His Lordship told us that the writing was no answer, but only the first reply, in 
order thence to come into further conference ; all which tends to the agitation of the Amboina 
question. Your High Mightinesses know how ill instructed we are on that subject; we 
therefore request again, most humbly, that, pursuant to our previous despatches, we receive 
by the first opportunity further order on this subject. 

We particularly complained to the said Lord High Treasurer of the unreasonable and 
unheard of proceeding adopted towards the ship the Eendraeht, which arrived from New 
Netherland, and have finally so far influenced his Lordship that he promised us to give orders 
for the release of the aforesaid vessel, saving and without prejudice to his Majesty's right. 
We have advised the Agent of the West India Company hereof, so that he may retain on 
board the ship the crew he had orders to send over. 

The said Lord Treasurer hath also informed us that the King hath postponed, until the 
next week, the consideration of Captain Daniel le Clercq's case, in consequence of the 
occurrence of divers important affairs here, which must be first disposed of. We have already 
written at large to your High Mightinesses on the subject of this trial and refer you thereunto. 

Yesterday evening the news came of the arrival of an extraordinary Ambassador from 
France, who had been excepted. 

And herewith commending ourselves, most humbly, to the good graces of your High 
Mightinesses, we shall pray Almighty God, High and Mighty Lords, that he may continue to 
bless your High Mightinesses' wise government more and more. 

Your High Mightinesses' 

Most dutiful and faithful Servants, 
In London, Alb. Joachimi. 

27" 1 May, 1632 ; new style. Govert Brasser. 

Received 11 June, 1632. 

' See note, supra p 53. — Ed. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: II. 61 

Subject for the Consideration of the Assembly of the XIX. 1633. 

[ From the Original in the Royal Archives at the Hague ; File, West Indie.} 

Extract from the Points of Reference whereupon all the Chambers of the West 
India Company are summoned to Amsterdam, for the 1st April, 1633, so far 
as relates to the affairs of New Netherland. Exhibited 23 d March, 1633. 

16 ,h Point. 

And whereas there are some prizes at the islands of Fernando Norenho and St. Martin, it is 
to be considered whether the Commanders there, as well as those on the coast of Guinea, 
Africa and New Netherland, ought not be authorized by their High Mightinesses and the 
Prince of Orange, to adjudicate there, on said prizes; to declare them lawful, and to protect 
said prizes from seizure, in English or other harbors. 

I 

■«■»»..» 



Resolution of the States of Holland in regar'd to the Affairs of the West India Company. 

[ From the Register of Resolutions of the States of Holland and Westfrlesland, in the Royal Archives' at the Hague. ] 

Resolution of the Noble, Great and Mighty Lords, the States of Holland and 
West Friesland. The 10 lh June, 1633. 

The Committee appointed to communicate with the Directors of the East and West India 
Companies on the subject of the present trade, so far as it concerns the said Companies, 
presented a report of the interview which took place this morning with the Directors of the 
West India Company ; when it was proposed to them, Whether the truce to be concluded 
with the opposite party, would be advantageous or not to them. In case they were of opinion 
that the truce would be of advantage to them, the limits and whatever depended thereon must 
be.taken into consideration: in case they should conclude it to be disadvantageous to them, it 
must be considered how the aforesaid Company could be best maintained. That the aforesaid 
Directors answered thereunto, that they had handed in their reasons in writing, to which they 
still adhered; and that the aforesaid Company could not exist, except by war. That the 
condition of the Company was such, that it improved from day to day, whereof they shortly 
expect intelligence ; some of which they had communicated. The aforesaid Committee 
communicating their opinions further to the Assembly, were of opinion that the aforesaid 
Company could not be well maintained without a war. 



62 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Remonstrance of the West India Company against a Peace with Spain. 

[ From the MS. in the Royal Archive9 at the Hague ; Loketkas of the State8 General : Division, West Tndische Oompagnie, No. 4. ] 

To the Great and Mighty Lords, the States of Holland and Westfriesland. 

Great and Mighty Lords. 

Your Great Mightinesses were pleased to summon this day the Directors of the Incorporated 
West India Company; namely, those of the Chamber at Amsterdam; and to explain to them 
what was done, or would still likely be done, in this negotiation with the enemy concerning 
the Company, and to ask their opinion thereupon. We had truly wished that all the opinions 
of the respective Chambers in these United Netherlands, could be heard on this subject at the 
same time, and so considered by the High and Mighty Lords States General and his Highness 
the Prince of Orange, that both might thereby advance the interest of Fatherland and the 
prosperity of the Company; and that the Company might be maintained, as we heretofore 
have humbly set forth in divers Deductions and Remonstrances; and particularly in the year 
1629, when like deliberations were held. 

But as Your Great Mightinesses have been pleased to call on us specially on the subject, we 
shall not remain in default, but well and thoroughly inform your Great Mightiness of every thing 
that must be considered in this connection, for the interest of this State, according to our limited 
abilities and good disposition. 

And, lay before Your Great Mightinesses, first of all, the vast services this Company hath, 
from its inception until now, conferred on this State, and what it can further perform hereafter. 

For, howbeit, we trust that the enemy's persevering endeavors to be freed from the arms 
of this Company in the West Indies, is a clear and irrefragible argument of the service which 
it is daily conferring on this State, whilst the latter seems, nevertheless, not to greatly esteem 
or consider it ; yet the following Deduction will serve more strongly to confirm those who have 
duly comprehended the importance of the Company to this State, and afford better information 
to those who may entertain a doubt thereupon. 

Brief deduction of the Advantages the Commonwealth derives from the Company. 

First: As regards what it consumes. 

The Company hath yearly, on an average, one year with another, equipped, victualled and 
dispatched over fifty ships. 

Hath employed over six thousand, as well soldiers as seamen, and over eight or nine 
thousand during the last year. 

And for the support thereof, purchased and slaughtered a large quantity of cattle, made great 
store of biscuit, hard bread, flour, beans, peas, groats, dried codfish, butter and cheese, and 
such like supplies. 

Hath, also, sent large quantity of wines, brandies, oil, vinegar, and similar liquors. 

Item, a large amount of powder, lead, bullets, and other munitions of war. 

Secondly: Regarding duties. 

The Company imported an excessively large amount of costly wares, such as Cochineal, 
Silk, Indigo, an innumerable quantity of Sugars, Hides, Ginger and other spices, Cotton, 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: II. (33 

Elephants' teeth, Tobacco, Brazil and other woods, Salt, Gums, etc., from the exportation of 
which to other countries the State had the benefit of large duties. 

Thirdly: By the increase of the Trade and Wealth of the Commonalty. 

The said Company brought into the country a very large amount of gold and silver, both 
coined and uncoined ; exported a vast quantity of all sorts of manufactures, most of which 
were made here ; for the Trade to Guinea alone requires, for all descriptions of manufactures, 
an annual outlay of above five tons of gold, and returns yearly into the country over ten tons 
of gold. 

In like manner, a large quantity of goods was shipped to other parts of Africa and America, 
in return for which many other goods were imported, whereby the inhabitants of this country 
obtained trade and employment. 

Fourthly: By strengthening the Country. 

The Company hath, at present, about one hundred and twenty well built ships, some of 400 
and some of 300 lasts; several of 250 200 and 150 lasts and the remainder of smaller 
dimensions; all as well supplied with metal and iron pieces, and suitable ammunition, as any 
of the enemy's best and largest vessels. 

One-third, or in case of need, fully one-half of those can almost always be employed in the 
public service. 

The Company maintains and employs a large number of seamen, who, otherwise, would not 
find any work, and fits them for divers situations, even the highest in the State. 

Fifthly: Regarding the aid afforded to the Country. 

Particularly, when the enemy invaded the Veluwe, the Company supplied the common 
people with ammunition and provisions, so that its fleet, destined for Brazil, was thereby 
detained over three months, whilst it had to maintain above three thousand men abroad doing 
nothing, to the great damage and obstruction of its designs. 

The Company aided the State, in its necessity, with a handsome sum of ready money. 

And so strengthened it by the rich distribution of public and private wealth, that it became 
much better able to bear the public charges, and more promptly to discharge them. 

Sixthly: Seeing that it has inflicted such excessive damage on the enemy, and caused an 
indescribable diversion 

Laid waste Bahia, which, independent of the incurred damages, cost the King of Spain over 
ten millions to recover it; and, also, captured, plundered and destroyed Porto Rico, Margarita, 
Sancta Martha, St. Thomas, Guiana, and sundry other places; 

Took and retained Peruambuco and Tamarica, whereby the King of Spain hath lost over a 
million and a half of yearly revenue. 

Forced the said King to great expence of fleets, to be sent to Brazil, whence his sugars used 
heretofore to be brought home without any trouble, and whilst he lay asleep; and his revenue 
collected without any cost. 

Item. Prevented the Portuguese, by the continual cruizing of our ships on the coast of Brazil, 
from bringing over their sugars and other produce; twenty-three per cent of which, when 
imported, went to the King; and as much when exported, amounting together to forty-six per 
cent, nearly half the sugar; without the loss which is suffered in Brazil wood, from shrinkage. 

Also, captured his fleet from New Spain, and thrice made prize of the rich Honduras ships; 
took, moreover, in divers parts of Africa and America, over a hundred of his vessels, most of 
which had full freights, including several of his best galleons; and burnt and destroyed nearly 
as many, if not more, that had ran ashore. 



6 4 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Forced him to dispatch a greater number of galleons and armed ships, than he was formerly- 
accustomed to send, to convey the fleet from Terra firma and New Spain. 

Obliged him to change his usual seasons, and to let his ships come over at unusual and 
unfavorable periods of the year, whereby a rich fleet from New Spain was, last year, almost 
entirely lost; and (as far as we can ascertain) his last year's fleet, which otherwise ought to 
have been in before the winter, hath not as yet arrived up to the present time; by all which 
his treasury is so exhausted, and his credit so damaged, that it can with difficulty be repaired; 
and he is, in consequence, obliged to apply to this country even for the Truce. 

It is also to be considered, that this State hath paid and still pays to foreign princes, heavy 
yearly subsidies, the money whereof goes and remains out of the country; and nothing was 
obtained in return, except what was effected this last year by the Company, who expend the 
subsidies in this country. 

From all this, and from what can be more fully set forth, if necessary, your Great 
Mightinesses will easily perceive what services the Company hath rendered this State, and 
what advantages the country hath derived from it. And more especially this province of 
Holland and Westfriesland, because thither flowed six-ninths of the Company's capital, and 
here most of the equipments were made; besides all that is above enumerated, the Company 
can hereafter effect still more for the public service, and to the enemy's prejudice. 

And that with greater ease and much more effectually than heretofore, first, because it now 
possesses, in Brazil, the most important points in that country ; and the most convenient that 
could be selected in all America ; as the entire world, and even the enemy best knows. 

Secondly, because it has ascertained by great outlay and long experience, where the King's 
power in America is weakest, and how easily he can be deprived of the most valuable of 
his revenues. 

Whether these services which the Company can confer on the country, and which this State 
hath undoubtedly a right to expect for its preservation and for the humbling of the enemy, ought 
still be continued and encouraged ; or rather whether, on the contrary, such favorable advantages 
ought to be thrown away, are considerations which we leave to commend themselves to your 
Great Mightinesses' wise deliberations. 

For your Great Mightinesses will easily perceive the advantage the King of Spain hath to 
expect if the Company's Ships, and power be lifted oft' his neck. And how soon he, 
unobstructed in the arrival of his fleets, will be able to recruit his battered finances and credit, 
and become, ere long, more formidable to this State and its Allies than he ever has been 
before ; and how easily he will be able to fortify the places which now lie open to us, and to 
strengthen those already fortified, so that all our power and knowledge will hereafter profit 
us nothing. 

We can herein prescribe in no wise to your Great Mightinesses, nor be of use any longer 
than is agreeable to this State. 

But this we must, in virtue of our office, lay in all submission, before your Great 
Mightinesses, that the Company, so far as the interest of its stockholders is concerned, can 
without great loss, be easily brought to this negotiation, by money or goods for its contracts, 
such as the case deserves. That the Stockholders also would easily forget their losses, if the 
State might, by that means, be much benefitted ; but that the Company would thereby, in 
time, come to ruin, and be unable to do the State any further service. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: II. 65 

For unless the war with the King of Spain continue, and liberal subsidies be received from 
the State, it can derive scarcely any benefit from the Company, even if any essential injury 
done the enemy; for, it will be of no consequence to this State, whether the Company, by 
negotiation, retain its possessions in Brazil, or restore them to the King for a sum of money. 

We willingly acknowledge that this Company was, in the beginning, designed principally 
for the augmentation of trade and navigation, without which the great multitude of seafaring 
people, with which God has blessed this country, could not be employed, nor the several trades 
kept in continual action and prosperity. 

Also, that those who, in that operation, pretended to have been most clear sighted, were of 
the opinion that the countries of the West Indies were not so thickly settled and planted by our 
enemies, but that trade could be established with divers people and Nations ; colonies carried 
over, plantations of divers profitable products promoted, and emoluments derived therefrom 
similar to what our enemies have now for many years drawn from their's to the manifest 
strengthening of the King's finances ; and in case of delay or ill success, it was expected to 
make good a part of the loss, by return cargoes of salt ; but, in consequence of the tedious 
negotiations with those of the North Quarter, the enemy hath wholly destroyed our Salt Trade 
at Punta del Rey. 

And in regard to trade, experience hath by degrees, made us wiser, and taught us, that it is 
very meager and indifferent with the people and nations who are still independent of the King 
of Spain ; also, that the countries still unoccupied, are for the most part unproductive and of little 
value, and those which have been found good and productive, being greatly encumbered by 
timber, &c, are very difficult of cultivation, especially for our nation, who, being unaccustomed 
to so hot a climate, find it difficult to apply themselves to labor, and being unprovided with 
slaves and also not in the habit of making use of them, cannot supply their own inefficiency 
by the labor of others, as the Spaniards and Portuguese easily do by that of the Blacks 
and Indians. 

Moreover, the peopling of such wild and uncleared lands, demands more inhabitants than 
our country can supply; not so much for want of population, with which our provinces swarm, 
as because all those who will labor in any way here, can easily obtain support, and, therefore, 
are disinclined to go far from home on an uncertainty. 

To which can be added, the uncertainty of being able to protect themselves, unless at a 
greater expence than the apparent gains to be derived therefrom, seem to justify. But in 
order that your Great Mightinesses may be thoroughly informed herein, and understand the 
condition of the countries yet unoccupied by our enemies, we shall, with this view, explain 
to you, High and Mighty, more minutely our limits in the West Indies, together with the extent 
and condition thereof. 

The limits granted to us by your High Mightinesses begin, on the North, at New France, 
the bounds whereof were extended so very far by the French, that they would call in question 
our New Netherland, which is the first country occupied by our people. Though this district, 
in point of climate, ought to be as warm and suitable for fruit culture as the confines of France 
adjoining Spain, yet it was found to be nearly colder than the latter, yea, than more northerly 
countries. For this reason, then, the people conveyed thither by us have as yet been able to 
discover only scanty means of subsistence, and have been no advantage, but a drawback to 
this Company. The trade there in peltries is, indeed, very profitable, but one year with another 
only fifty thousand guilders, at most, can be brought home. South of this follow Virginia, 
Vol. I. 9 



g6 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

settled by the English, and Florida, so far as it is adapted to trade, by the Spaniards. The 
large Islands are occupied by the Spaniards ; the small are difficult of access; their condition 
as yet but little known, and some of the best of all the roadsteads are in the possession of the 
French and English ; in addition to this, the English lay claim to all the Caribbean islands, by 
virtue of a certain grant made to the Earl of Carlisle. Moreover, from the Cape of Florida, 
which runs out opposite Cuba, to the beginning of New Spain, there is still more land adapted 
for settlement, and people to trade with. Now, from New Spain, Eastward, the whole coast 
of Incanata, Honduras and Terra Firma (as the Spaniards call it) to beyond Trinidad, and 
not only the coasts, but also the islands, are all settled by Spaniards ; except next to these, the 
Guiana country, which we call the Wild coast ; this Coast and divers rivers are inhabited by free 
Indians, and still unsettled ; in these countries are many products which might be advantageously 
brought hither ; but what of them ? Those people are so barbarous, and have so few wants 
(inasmuch as they feel no desire for clothing, and require no necessaries for their subsistence) 
that all the trade which exists there, can easily be carried on with two or three ships a year, 
and be maintained with trifling Capital. The country is bounded by the great river of the 
Amazons, which also, is not free from Spanish settlements, as our people have experienced to 
their damage. Next follows again, an extensive coast unto Brazil, the greatest part of which 
possessing any capability of producing articles of trade or cultivation, is altogether settled by 
the Portuguese. Brazil, wholly settled by them, extends beyond the Tropic of Capricorn, 
and from thence onward to the straits of Magellan, and is of no value. 

Across the Strait, in the South sea, nothing remains unsettled, except the west part of 
Magellianica and a part of Chili, and finally, the isolated ( geunageneerde ) wealthy countries 
of Terra Australis. 

Thus your Great Mightinesses see what remains, within such great limits, in the West 

Indies, open to the Company for trade or cultivation; wherefore, from the commencement of 

our administration, we preferred to proceed in a warlike manner against the common enemy; 

the rather, because we found that even the few nations (whether situate far or near) who are 

independent of the King of Spain, could be brought to trade with us in no other way than by 

declaring themselves in our favor, and showing themselves to be, in fact, enemies of the 

Spaniards; but principally because we found that the expected service, for the welfare of our 

Fatherland and the destruction of our hereditary enemy, could not be accomplished by the 

trifling trade with the Indians, or the tardy cultivation of uninhabited regions; but, in reality, 

by acts of hostility against the ships and property of the King of Spain and of his subjects; 

surprizing his possessions and preserving them for the public service; which plan has been so 

graciously blessed by God, during these latter years, that great wealth has thereby been 

brought to this State, and the enemy's finances thrown into such arrears and confusion, that 

no improvement is to be expected therein, except from the cessation of our arms and retaining 

our fleets at home, out of those countries. But this prosecution of war, instead of commerce, 

has not been undertaken by us, of our own mere motion, but principally by the advice of the 

High and Mighty Lords States General, and the concurrence of his Serene Grace, the Prince 

of Orange; for your Great Mightinesses will well remember, that from the very inception of 

the Company, we have all been solicited by their High Mightinesses' Commissioners, not only 

to undertake some hostile expedition against the enemy, but even to dispatch our fleet to 

reinforce that which a short time before had been ordered out under the command of Admiral 

L' Hermite, and to send the ships we had then by us ready equipped in the Zuyder Zee, which 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: II. 67 

from good motives and with their Higli Mightinesses' concunence, were dispatched to Bahia " 
de Todos los Sanctos. From these beginnings have we proceeded farther and farther into 
war; and undertaken, with their High Mightinesses' advice and the approbation of his Serene 
Grace, divers expeditions which, to the astonishment of the universe, have been crowned, from 
time to time, with such success; and neglected to plant colonies and to settle countries, 
from which as great trade might have followed as we at present possess, or in all probability, 
could speedily establish; so that there remains only the trade to Guinea and Africa, which is 
trilling in comparison with the Company's large Capital, and had been already diverted and 
spoiled, by other nations; and, in season of truce, still greater hazard is to be expected in that 
quarter. We, therefore, confidently, and of our certain knowledge, do assert, that the entering 
into a Truce, must be the ruin of this Company; and that your High Mightinesses will for 
ever lose the fortunate prop of this State, and the great decrease of your hereditary enemy's 
finances; for, let us by means of commerce be much greater than we can yet imagine, not a 
straw can the enemy be weakened thereby; nor can the sixth part of our ships be employed; 
and, consequently, only a small portion of the Seamen kept in service. We cannot oblige the 
Indians to trade with us; nor can we trade with them, without circumspection, if we show 
ourselves the friends of the Spaniards, and to have intimate relation with them. It were idle 
to court the Chilians and to spare the Spaniards. In fine, nothing will remain for us, save a 
meager scum of a well fed body; for the Company will be obliged to sell a great portion of 
their largest ships and many of their guns, at a heavy sacrifice, and to send the people away 
empty or sick; and then, nevertheless, to make further reductions. The stockholders will be 
discouraged; the shares will fall in value; many will sell out; as some have already 
done, and daily continue to do; even of those who, up to this time, have conferred lustre on 
this Company. 

We earnestly trust that neither their High Mightinesses, nor his Serene Grace, will suffer 
this, nor unnecessarily surrender so great an advantage to the enemy; but, rather, that they 
will adopt a laudable and firm resolution to maintain the Company in their Charter, and aid 
them in prosecuting the war; and that your Great Mightinesses will, herein, set them an 
example of zeal equal to what you formerly exhibited. 

For, as we have lately at some length submitted to their High Mightinesses, affairs in Brazil 
are so shaped that by sending a some what stronger force and an experienced chief thither (as 
we now propose to do, if properly encouraged) that place will not only be secured to this 
State, but rendered so profitable that its expenses will disappear, and it will produce great 
trade and prosperity to this country. 

Your Great Mightinesses can determine that the subsidies we have hereunto demanded are 
not so great as to embarrass this State; some provinces make no difficulty about them; but 
where those subsidies appear to be a little heavier than present circumstances can well justify, 
the profit to be reaped therefrom is also so great, and the security which this State will obtain 
thereby, so evident, that there ought not to be a moment's hesitation about it. 

Foreign princes, whose good successes were both to be desired and feared, were voted these 
past years heavier subsidies; these were not grudged to those from whom this State hath 
heretofore derived but little advantage, all for the purpose of creating a diversion, and 
weakening the enemy; with what excuse then will men be able to cover their neglect or 
disregard of a Company, which, out of its own private means, hath wrought such good for the 
commonwealth, and which nestles here under your Great Mightinesses' wings, and cannot be 
dreaded except by its enemies? 



68 NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

If your Great Mightinesses please to examine the deliberations previous to the compleat 
establishment of the Company; the Charter which their High Mightinesses offered, unsolicited 
by their subjects; the circumstances which occurred in the course of the Administration, it is a 
very questionable point, whether the Directors are not better able to vindicate themselves 
before their stockholders for having expended their property so lavishly in the public service, 
than the rulers of this State to excuse themselves to posterity for having had such little regard 
for the services of the Company, which they had hitherto assisted, as to abandon it at last on 
the appearance of the enemy. 

It depends on the determination of the Lords to continue the war, or to terminate it by a 
peace, or even to suspend it for some years, by a truce. Whichever bo resolved upon, the 
Company must necessarily come into consideration.. The enemy who intrudes herein, seems 
not disposed to come to any conclusion, before and until the Company be taken off" his neck, 
and the captured places restored on certain conditions. 

We are not afraid that their High Mightinesses will concur with the foe in this ; but, indeed, 
that those who most affect the truce, may charge us with being an obstruction to its full 
accomplishment. And, although it were in no wise to be tolerated, the consequence will be, 
that the resolution of subsidies will be passed late, and carried slowly into effect, so that, in 
conclusion, we shall have to pray your Great Mightinesses seriously to consider, first: whether 
this State hath to expect any notable relief and profit from the war which the Company is to 
continue in the countries of America; or, if it be better to oblige the King so far as to surrender 
such considerable advantages, obtained at so great an expense, and to abandon the Company. 

And, meanwhile, your Great Mightinesses are humbly requested to take into consideration 
the Charter the High and Mighty Lords States General have granted us, which attracted 
stockholders not only in this country, but also among many of the confederates, and how it will 
be possible to answer the one or the other before the world ; also, to pay due attention to the 
placards lately promulgated in Brazil, in the name of their High Mightinesses, according to 
which the natives and likewise some of the Portuguese, as we are informed, have already 
begun to regulate themselves, and cannot be abandoned without marked infamy and loss 
of credit. We pray God, that He be pleased to inspire your Great Mightinesses in such wise, 
as shall tend to the dissemination of His honor, and the prosperity of our fatherland. 



Subject for the Consideration of the Assembly of the XIX. 1634. 

[ From the Original in the Koyal Archives at the Hague : File, TT«i« Indie. ] 

Points of Reference on which all the Chambers of the West India Company are 
summoned to Amsterdam for the lS th March, 1634, extracted as far as relates 
to New Netherland. 
6 ,h Point. 

Inasmuch as the differences with the proprietors of Colonies of New Netherland were 
postponed at the last meeting, the members shall be reminded to come with mature deliberation, 
in order to terminate this matter at once, according to the Resolution of the 7 th and 10 ,h 
September, 16 lh November, and 17 ,h and 21" December last. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: II. 69 

Resolution of the States General on the difficulties hetween the Company and the 

Patroons. 

[From the Register of Resolutions of the States General, in the Royal Archives at the Hagne. ] 

Saturday the 13 th May, 1634. 
Follows. jj eac j a certain memorial presented to their High Mightinesses, setting forth 

West In<lia Company . j-/v» i , i r^ • „ 

against that some differences have arisen between the Directors of the West India 

The Planter! in 

New Netneriand. Company, on the one part, and the Patroons, Planters in New Netherland, on 
the other side ; and that parties have, according to resolution of the Assembly of the XIX., 
recently held in Amsterdam, mutually referred the said question to their High Mightinesses, or 
their committee ; and that their High Mightinesses should therefore nominate some 
Commissioners from their body, before whom both parties may'submit and institute their suits, 
in order that, after hearing said parties, judgment may be rendered according to equity. Which 
being considered, it is hereby resolved and decided to request and appoint Mess" Arnhem, 
Herberts de Knuyt, Weede, Lecklama and Haersolte to hear and understand both sides, pro 
and con, respecting their differences; and afterwards to decide said differences as, by plurality 
of votes, shall be found most agreeable to justice; and in case of the absence of the one 
party or the other, their High Mightinesses' said Commissioners are empowered to transact 
business with the party present; and those interested shall be summoned to appear here on 
the 21 s ' inst., in order to proceed to business on the day following. 



States General to the Amsterdam Chamber of the West India Company. 

[Fiom the Minute in the Royal Archives at the Hague ; File, West Indie. ] 

To the Chamber of the West India Company at Amsterdam, as presiding Chamber. The 
. 13 May, 1634. 

The States. 
WestI 2 E :dS rapony Whereas we have this day deputed some Lords from our Assembly, to hear and 
N l e th, l; r!and 8 .' nNew examine you and the committee from the principal stockholders on the one side, 
and the Patroons, planters in New Netherland on the other side, respecting the differences 
which have arisen ; with authority afterwards to determine the said differences as they, by 
plurality of votes, shall find most agreeable to justice. And the 22 d instant having been fixed 
and appointed by our commissioners for that business; we have therefore resolved to notify you 
thereof, requesting that your delegates, together with the authorized principal stockholders, 
may be here at the Hague on the evening of the 21 8t instant, with full powers and instructions, 
in order to appear on the following day before our Commissioners above mentioned, who will 
then proceed to business. Wherein fail not. 

Done 13 ,h May, 1634. 



70 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

States General to the Patroons of New Netherland. 

[ From the Miuule in the Royal Archives at the Hague ; File, West Indie. ] 

To Mr. Michiel Pauw, Lord of AclUienhoven, Co-Patroon in New Netherland. The 
13 ,h May, 1634. 

The States. 

Th0 co^o S i l an India Whereas we have this day deputed some Lords from our Assembly, to hear 

thePntrSorNcw an d examine you and the other interested patroons, planters of the Colonies in 

e ' ber item New Netherland, on the one part, and the delegated Directors of the West India 

Mutatis mutan.tis. Company and the authorized Stockholders on the other part, relative to the 

Samuel Illommerl, r J r 

tair.UeorickUamS. differences which have arisen, with power afterwards to determine the said 
differences, as by plurality of votes they shall find equitable. And the 22 d instant having been 
fixed and appointed by the said Lords, our Deputies, as the day for the business; we have 
therefore resolved to notify you thereof, commanding you to attend here at the Hague, duly 
provided in all things, as the case requires, on the evening of the 21" instant, in order to appear 
on the next day, for the purposes aforesaid, before the above mentioned Lords, our deputies, 
who will then proceed to business. Wherein fait not; giving notice hereof to the other 
patroons, planters, who are also interested in the aforesaid differences. 

Done 13 May, 1634. 



Resolution of the States General on a letter from the West India Company. 

[ From the Register of Resolutions of the States General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Monday, 22 May, 1634. 

Foiio 430. Read a letter from the Directors of the West India Company at Amsterdam, 

west India Com- r t | ie 20 ,h instant, requesting, for reasons therein set forth, that the appearance 
Planters. before their High Mightinesses' Deputies, whereunto they are summoned for the 

22 d instant, may be postponed for eight days or more. Whereupon it is resolved, to hand 
the aforesaid letter to Messrs. Arnhem and others, their High Mightinesses' Deputies, who will 
fix another suitable day, and notify the aforesaid Directors, together with the masters of the 
Colonies in New Netherland, to appear as aforesaid. 



Resolution of the States General fixing a day for hearing the Patroons, &c. 

[ From the Register of Resolutions of the States General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Saturday, 10 June, 1634. 
Foiio 4S2. On motion of Mr. Arnhem, the Directors of the West India Company, and the 

Westlmlia Company ■ ' 

against Patroons, planters in New Netherland shall be summoned to be on the evening 

the Pulroous plant- r o 

"'■ of the 14 lb instant at the tavern, in order to proceed to business next day on 

the difference between them respectively existing. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: II. 71 

States General to the Patroons of New Netherland. 

[ From the Minute in the Royal Archives at the 'Hague. File, West Indie. ] 

To the Patroons, planters in New Netherland. The 10 ,h June, 1634. 

The States. 

WestI " di a ! in"t mp " ny ^ e not 'fi e d y° u ana " the other Patroons, planters, on the 13 ,h May last, to 
NethMUrl"" '" Now appear here on the evening of the 21" then next ensuing, on the subject of the 
differences existing with those of the West India Company, respecting the Colonies and their 
rights in New Netherland. And whereas the day must be postponed at the request of those of 
the West India Company, we have accordingly adjourned it until the 14 th instant, next ensuing, 
in the evening, at the tavern. Wherein fail not. 

Done 10 th June, 1634. 



States General to the Amsterdam Chamber of the West India Company. 

[ From the Minute in tho Royal Archives at the Hague. File, Went Indie. ] 

To the Directors of the West India Company, in the Chamber at Amsterdam. The 10 th 
June 1634. 

The States. 
We8 ' I agair?8t mpimy ^ e notified you on the 13 ,h May last, to appear here on the evening of the 
N»iherian™ in New 21 5t then next ensuing, on the subject of the differences with the Patroons, 
planters in New Netherland. And whereas the day must be postponed at your request, we have 
accordingly adjourned it until the 14 th instant next ensuing, at the tavern, in order to proceed 
to business on the following day. Wherein fail not. 

Done 10 ,h June, 1634. 



Mr. Joachimi to the States General. 

[ From the Original, in the Royal Archives at the Hague; File, Engeland. ] 

High and Mighty Lords. 

Mess" William Clobery, David Morehead and Johan de la Barre, merchants here in London, 
having fitted out a ship to trade on Hudson's river, as they call it, have been prevented to 
traffic there, and in that vicinity, by the Officers of the Dutch West India Company. Deeming 
themselves iujured thereby, they pretend to demand reparation for their damages. Previous, 



72 



NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 



however, to submitting their complaints to the King or to the Lords of his Majesty's Council, 
they concluded to speak to me and to place the information in my hands, to see if they could 
obtain satisfaction voluntarily for what they claim. Copy of the aforesaid information 
accompanies this. I have also sent a like copy to the Directors of the aforesaid Company. 
Parties have given me the name of a person who offered them a good sum of money for the 
claim, in order, as they say, that these complaints may be added to the other grievances. For 
the Spanish Ambassador gathers together all that can be collected against your High 
Mightinesses and your subjects, with a view to provoke and foster misunderstandings among 
this nation, against your High Mightinesses and the inhabitants of the United Netherlands. 
To this they seem to attach altogether too much credit. Some months ago, disputes about 
boundaries broke out here, in presence of the King and his Majesty's Council, between those 
who have the King's Charter for Virginia and those who sail to and colonize New England. 
A noble Lord, who regrets to perceive that there is any misunderstanding between the English 
and Dutch nations, has informed me, that the aforesaid disputes did not arise because the 
persons above mentioned were suffering any injury, the one from the other, but in order to 
pick a quarrel with the Dutch about the possession of New Netherland. The aforesaid Lord 
was of opinion, that the disputes above mentioned, are forged in the Spanish forge. He asked, 
if the Dutch could not be disposed to pay the King of Great Britain some acknowledgment for 
what they occupy there? I cut him off" from all hope of that. The intrigues of the Spaniards 
are many and palpable. They have great advantage, because your High Mightinesses' power 
at sea, is looked on with great jealousy here. 1 humbly crave your High Mightinesses to 
make such order, that I may know by the first opportunity, how 1 shall have to act further in 
this matter. The right way would be to leave these people to the law. But I fear, that this 
case would not be allowed to be tried in the ordinary manner; inasmuch as the question of the 
King's jurisdiction is mixed up with it. The merchant, or factor, of the ship in this case, is 
the same person that was factor to the French ship of Caen ; respecting which the Directors 
of the East India Company several years ago, had trouble. Your High Mightinesses' letter 
of the xvii March, with the M. Oxensterne's proposal, and the pieces thereunto belonging, and 
another of the xxi of the aforesaid month, respecting the two Scots skippers, arrived here only 
on the xvii instant, through want of conveyance from Zealand. Herewith I shall close this, 
commending myself respectfully to your High Mightinesses, and praying God, 

High and Mighty Lords, that He may bless your High Mightinesses' Government, more 
and more. 



In London, the xxvii May, 1634. 
Received 13 th June, 1634. 



Your High Mightinesses' 

most humble servant, 
(signed) Alb. Joachimi. 
1634. 



Appendix; Received 13. June, 1634. 
Pro magro Clobery 
et Alio. 

1 November 1633. 

1. Andrewe Hume of the precincte of Saincte Catherine, London marriner, aged about 32 
yeares, sworne before the Wor" William Sanies, Doctor of Lawes, Surrogate to the righte 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: II. 73 

Wor" Sir Henry Marten, knight judge of his Majesties higlie Court of the Admiralltye. 
To the first interrye: hee sayeth, that the interr te William Clobery, David Morehead and 
John Delabarr, in the monethes of November and December, Anno domini 1632 laste paste, 
did freighte and victuall the interr' e Shippe, called the William of London (whereof William 
Trevore was Master) and did lade diverse goodes abord her, to be transported in the said 
Shippe to Hutsons have, adioyninge unto Virginia. W lh in his Majesties dominions there to 
be traded w lh and trucked awaye w th the Natives of those countries for beaver skinnes and 
other skinnes or furrs ; the premisses hee knoweth to be true, being m rs mate of the said 
shippe the saide voyage. 

To the second hee sayeth, that the said shippe did arrive into Hutsons river upon or about 
the thirteenth day of Aprill last past ; and that the mouth or entrance of said river is 
about the latitude of ftburtye degrees and twentye minutes, and in longitude sixe and fourtye 
degrees or tbereaboutes from England, accomptinge twentye leagues to a degree. And saveth, 
that assoone as the said shippe came into harbor within the said river, the Dutch commanded 
all her companye (excepte one boye) to leave the said shippe and to come to theire forte. 
Where they were about halfe an houre, and then wente abord theire shippe againe ; and 
afterwards wente about ffourtye leagues upp into the river. And there Jacob Jacobson Elkins, 
the merchants factor, and some others of the Companye wente on shoare and pitchte his tente 
and carryed divers goodes with them to trade with the natives of those places for beavers and 
other furrs. But the Dutch followeth them upp the said river, and would not suffer them to 
trade there; but went on shoare, and pulled downe de said factors tent, and carried the goods 
and the said factor, and the rest of the companye, which were on shoare abord the said shippe 
the William againe. And as they were carryinge of them abord, sounded theire trumpett in the 
boate, in disgrace of the Englishe, and beate twoe Indians, which came and broughte others 
with them to trade with the said Jacob Jacobson, beinge acquainted with him. And afterwards 
the Dutch goinge abord the said shippe, they weighed her anchors and inforced her companye 
to depte with the said shippe out of the said river, and went downe the river with them to 
sea They should not trade there, and the said merchants factor (as he tould this exaidate 
and others of the said shipps' companye) desired a certificate from the Dutch of their carriage 
towards the companye of the said shippe, and that they would not lett the englishe trade theire 
to shewe it to his merchants, when hee came home; which the Dutch refused to give him, and 
further he cannot depose. 

To the third interrye : hee sayeth, that by the injury and wrongs, done by the Dutch, as is 
aforesaid, the voyage of the said shippe the William was quite overthrowen, and the merchants 
that sett her forth, have thereby susteyned losse and dammage (as this deponent beleeveth ) 
to the value of foure thousand poundes sterlinge att the least with they meighte there have gott 
in trade with the natives in those places, if they had bine suffered to trade, and had trucked 
awaye all theire godes, accordinge to the rate as they had trucked for some small quantitie of 
the said goodes, before the Dutch inforced them to depte from thence as aforesaid, and further 
he cannott depose. 

Dicto die. 

2. William fforde of Lymehouse in the countye of Midd. marriner, aged about 36 yeares, 
sworne as afore said. 

Vol. I. 10 



7 4 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

To the ffirst interrye: he sayeth, that in or about the moneth of November Anno domini 
1632 last past the interr' e William Clobery, David Morehead and John Delabarr of London 
merchants, did victuall and set forth the shippe, called the William of London (whereof 
William Trevore was Master) and did lade diverse goodes abord her, for a voyage to bee made 
by her to Hutson's river, adioyninge to Virginia and New England, within his Majesties 
dominions, there to trade and trucke awaye such goodes as shee carryed in her with the natives 
of those countryes for beaver skinnes and other furrs; the premisses he knoweth to bee true, 
being gunner of the said shippe the said voyage. 

To the second hee sayeth, that the said shippe the William arived and entred into Hutson's 
river in the moneth of Aprill last past, which is in the latitude of ffourtie degrees and twentye 
minutes or thereaboutes, and about three dayes after her arrivall there, the Dutch there 
inhabitinge send and commannded all her companye (excepte one boye) to come to their forte, 
where they stayed about twoe houres, and whilest they were there, the Governor commannded 
his gunner to make ready three peeces of ordnance and shott them off for the Prince of 
Orange and to spread the said Princes Colouers, whereupon Jacob Jacobson Elkins, the 
merchants factor of the said shippe, the William, commannded this deponent to goe abord 
the said shippe and spread her Colouers, and to shoote of theire peeces of ordnance for the 
honor of the Kinge of England. And afterwards the said shippe, goinge about three or fower 
and fourtie leagues higher upp in the said river, to trade a Spanishe carvell, manned with all 
Dutch, and a smacke followeth the said shippe; and after the said marchants factor, and this 
exaidate, and some other of the said shippers companye, had carryed divers goodes on shoare, 
and pitchte theire tent. And when the Indians or natives of those places came downe to trade 
with them, the Dutch did as much as they could disparidge the cloath and other comodities, 
that the Englishe did trucke away to the said Indians. But the said Jacob Jacobson Elkins, 
being very well acquainted with the said Indians, having often traded with them and speakinge 
theire language. The Indians were a greate deale more willinge to trade with them then with 
the Dutch, which the Dutch perceavinge they forbadd, and would not suffer the said Jacobson 
Elkins and the rest of the Companye of the said shippe the William to trade there any longer, 
but inforced her Companye to take theire goodes, which they had landed, to trucke awaye with 
the said Indians, and putt as manye of them as the shaloppe, belonging to the said shippe, would 
carrye abord that shalloppe, and therein so carryed them abord the said shippe, and the rest of 
the said goodes together with the said factor, and the rest of the said shippes Companye, which 
were on shoare. The Dutch carryed abord her in theire owne boate, and then weighed her 
anchors, and putt her under seale, and commannded the companye of the said shippe to come 
downe to theire lower forte. And the said Dutch smacke kepte them companye to see (as 
this deponent and the rest of the Englishe did conceave) that they should not trade by the 
waye. And hee also sayeth, that about three or foure dayes, before the Dutch carryed 
the Englishe and theire goodes abord theire shippe as. aforesaid; this deponente beinge in a 
shalloppe, neere the upper forte, belonginge to the Dutch, in trade with the Indians for some 
fewe beaver skinnes and other furrs. The Dutch commannded him to bee goone from thence 
with the saide shalloppe unto the tent, where the rest of his Companye were. Whereuppon 
this deponent desired a note under the hand of the Governor of the said forte, that hee was 
forced to depte from thence with the said shalloppe. Otherwise (he tould them) the merchants 
would not give him his wages. And then the said Governor sett his hand to such a note as 
he desired; and then the said Governor and others of his companye came into the said 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: II. 75 

shalloppe, and did stecke greene bowes about her, and carryed a trumpetter with them, and 
rowed the said shallopp downe to the tent, where this exaidats coinpanye were. And by 
the waye the said trumpett was sounded, and the Dutche drancke a bottle of strongwaters 
of three or fower pints, and were very merrye. And further he cannott depose, savinge 
he sayeth, that the Governors name of the upper forte, belonginge to the Dutch, was one 
Master Huntum. 1 

To the third he sayeth, that by reason of the wrongs and injuries, donne by the Dutch unto 
the companye of the said shippe the William, the voyage of the said shippe was quite 
overthrowne, and the merchants which sett her forth and freighted her, have thereby susteyned 
dammnge to the somme of foure thousand poundes sterlinge att the leaste (as hee verily 
beleeveth) for that theire was a greate quantitie of beaver skinnes and other furrs to be trade 
for there. And the natives of those places were a greate deale more willinge to trade with 
the English then with the Dutch, and sayeth, that if they had bine suffered to staye and trade 
there, and had trucked awaye all the goodes abord the said shippe, att the rate as they had 
for the goodes which they had trucked awaye before, the Dutch inforced them to depart from 
thence. They could not have made lesse of the said goodes in beaver skinnes and other furrs, 
then to the value of four thousand poundes. And this he affirmeth uppon his oath to be true. 

Dicto die. 

3 d Richard Barnard of Hull, in the countye of Yorke, marriner, aged about 24 yeares 
sworne as aforesaid. 

Tho the ffirst interrye: hee sayeth, that the shippe the William of London (whereof William 
Trevore was master) was victualled and sett forth by master Cloberye, master Morehead and 
master Delabarr, of London merchants, and they laded diverse goods abord her for a voyage, 
to be made by her to Hutsons river in America, betweene Virginia and New England, within 
the dominions of the King of England, to trucke awaye such goodes, as shee carryed with the 
natives of those places for beaver skinnes, furrs and other commodities. The premisses he 
knoweth to be true, beinge one of the companye of the said shippe, the said voyage. 

To the second he sayeth, that the said shippe the William, arrived into Hutsons river, righte 
againste the Dutch forte there, about the latter end of Aprill or begininge of May last past (: to 
his nowe beste remembrance:) and after her arrivall there, the Dutch inhabitinge in the said 
fforte, commannded all her companye (: except one boye:) to leave the said shippe, and to come 
on shoare att the said fforte. And whilest they were there, there were three peeces of 
ordnance shott off from the forte, for the Prince of Orange and his Colours were spred abrod 
upon the Castle. And the Governor of that fforte toulde the factor and the rest of the 
companye of the said shippe, that they should not trade there. But the said merchants factor, 
named Jacob Jacobson Elkins, tould the Governor of the said fforte, that that land was the 
King of Englauds lande, and they (: meaning the companye of the said shippe) were subiects, 
and therefore would trade there. And after they had stayed three dayes by the said fforte by 
the commannde of the Governor, they weighed their anchors and wente further into the said 
river, to trade and trucke awaye the godes abord the said shippe. Whereuppon the Dutch 
manned out three vessells after them viz' a pinnace, a carvell and a hoye, which followeth the 
said shippe. And after the 'said factor had landed a good quantitie of goodes, and had erected 

1 Hans Jorrissen Houten, who traded to New Netherland in 1621, was Commissary or Vice-director at Fort Orange, at 
this time. — Ed. 



76 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

a tente, and traded with the Indians some fewe dayes; the Governor of the upper ffbrte, 
helono-inffe to the Dutch, cominge to the said tent with other Dutchmen with him, and 
perceivinge, that the said Jacob Jacobson Elkins was very well aquainted with the Indians, 
and speake theire language very well, and was much beloved of them; and that they were a 
greate deale more willinge to trade with him then with the Dutch: the said Governor envied 
att the said merchants factor and the rest of the Englishe, and tould them, that they should 
not trade there any longer. But the said factor replyed, that they were the Kinge of Englands 
subiectes, and that that land was within the dominions of the Kinge of England. And 
therefore they would trade there. Whereuppon the Dutch pulled downe the said tent, 
and tooke all the goodes, which were in the said tent, and sente them, together with the factor 
and the rest of the Englishe, which were on shoare abord the said shippe the William, 
some in their owne boate and some in a shalloppe, belonginge to the said shippe the 
William. And then the said Dutch, goinge abord the said shippe, they weighed her anchors 
and commannded them to departe. And the foresaid carvell and twoe other small sloopes wente 
downe with them to the lower ffbrte, to see that they did not trade by the waye; and further 
he cannott depose. 

To the third he sayeth, that by reason the Dutch would not suffer the Companye of the saide 
shippe to trade, as aforesaid, her voyage was quite overthrowne ; and that if the said Dutch 
had sustened them to trade freely there, and that they had trucked awaye all the goodes, 
which they carried thither, att the rate that they trucked awaye the rest they mighte have had 
in trucke for the said goodes, which they were inforced to bringe away from thence in beaver 
skinnes, furrs and other commodities, to the value of foure thousand poundes Sterlinge att the 
leaste ; and this hee sayeth is true, of vertue of his oath. 

Dicto die. 
4. Christopher Langham of Wappinge, in the countie of Middex, sayler, aged about 26 
yeares, sworne as aforesaid. 

To the ffirst interreye : he sayeth, that master Clobery, master Morehead and master Delabarr, 

of London merchantes, about a fortnighte or three weekes before Christmas laste paste, did 

victuall and sett forth the shippe the William (whereof William Trevore was master) and 

did lade diverse goodes abord her, to be transported to Hutsons river, betweene Virginia 

and New England, within the dominions of the Kinge of England, to bee traded and trucked 

awaye there with the natives of those places for beaver skinnes, and other furrs; the premisses 

he knoweth to bee true, being one of the quartermasters of the said shippe, the said voyage. 

To the Second interroye : hee sayeth, that the said shippe arrived att Munhaddons fort in 

Hutsons river uppon or about the thirteenth day of Aprill last past, where all the said shippes 

Companye (excepte one boye) were commannded to come on shoare att the said ffbrte. And 

after the said shippe goinge further upp in the said river to trade with the natives of those 

places, for beaver and furrs. Thisexadiate and his precontest William Fford and some others 

of the said shippes Companye, beinge in trade with the Indians neere fort Oramia, another 

fort, belonging to the Dutch. They were by the Dutch forbidden to trade there; and 

afterwards the Governor of the fort, named Master Huntum came accompanyed with other 

Dutch into the Challopp, belonginge to the William, and rowed the said shallopp upp to the 

place, where Jacob Elkins and other of the said shippes companye hat pitched theire tent, and 

were in trade with the Indians for beaver and furrs. And as they wente up in the saide 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: II. 77 

shallopp, they sticked greene howes all about her, and drancke strongwaters, and sounded 
theire trumpett in a triumphinge manner over the Englislie. And when they came upp to the 
said tent, they would not suffer the said Jacob Elkins (whoe was well knowne both to the 
Dutch and to the Indians) to trade there; but pulled dovvne a part of his tente, and inforced 
the said factor to send part of the goodes, which he had landed for trade, in the said shalloppe 
abord the said shippe the William, and the rest of the said goodes together with the said 
factor; and the rest of the English, which were there on shoare. The Dutch carryed in theire 
owne boate, abord the said shippe (and as he hath heard) did beate some of the Indians for 
tradinge with the Englishe; and hee also sayeth, that the said Dutch, goinge abord the said 
shippe the William, weighed her anchors, and commannded her Companye to departe from 
thence. Whereuppon the Companye of the said Shippe, to keepe her from drivinge on shoare, 
putt her under saile, and sailed downe the said river. And the said Dutch hoye sailed downe 
witli her. And when the said shippe came to the lower forte, the said Jacob Elkins did 
demande a certificate from the Governor to shewe to his merchants of the behavio r of the 
Dutch towards the Englishe ; but whether that certificate were denyed or given him, he 
knoweth not; and further he cannott depose. 

To the third hee sayeth, that the voyage of the said shippe the William was quite overthrowne 
by reason that the Dutch would not suffer her Companye to trade as aforesaid And the 
merchants that sett her forth, are thereby dampnified to the some of foure thousand poundes 
sterlinge att the least, as hee verily beleeveth, for (hee sayeth) if they had traded for and 
trucked awaye all the goodes, which sliee brought from thence unto those Indians, with 
whome they were in trade, they mighte have gayned in trucke for the saide goodes soe much 
beaver and furrs as would have bine worth foure thousand poundes and upwards ; and this 
he aftirmeth uppon his oath to bee true. 

6 November 1633. 

5. William Deepinge of the Parishe of S 1 Mary Monthawe, London barber, Chirurgeon, 
aged about 27 yeares, sworne before the Wor" William Merricke, doctor of lawes, surrogate 
to the righte wor" Sir Henry Marten, knight judge of His Majesties liighe court of the 
Admiralltye. 

To the ffirste interreye : hee sayeth, that in the monethes arrived the shippe the William of 
London (whereof William Trevore was master) was victualled and sett forth att the charges 
of William Cloberye, David Morehead and John Delabarr, of London merchantes. And there 
were diverse goodes, laden abord by them, to be transported in the said shippe to Hutsons river 
which is scituate between Virginia and New England, within his Majesties dominions, there to 
bee traded with and trucked awaye to the natives of those countries for beaver and other 
skinnes and furrs; the premisses he knoweth to bee true, beinge Chirurgeon of the said 
shippe, the said voyage. 

To the second interreye: he sayeth, that the said shippe arrived at the mouth of Hutsons 
river, uppon or about the twentieth day of Aprill laste paste. And when she came righte 
againste Manhuttons fort the in said river, which fort was commannded by the Dutch, This 
exaidate was sente to the said fort to intreate the Governor to come abord the said shippe. 
But the said Governor would not goe abord, but commannded that all the companye of the said 
shippe should come to the said ffbrte; wente accordiuglye, and they all (e.xcepte one boye) 



~g NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

lefte theire shippe, and the Governor demannded theire merchante, wherefore they came thither. 
And he replyed, that they intended to goe upp further into the river, to trade with the natives 
of those places, as it was lawfull for them to doe, beinge the King of Englantes subiects. 
But the said Governor tould the saide factor, that hee could not suffer them to passe: for (as 
hee sayde) it was more then he could answere to his masters att home;, and therefore he would 
take some time to advise with his counsell about it. And after the corapanye of the said shippe 
had stayed before the said forte five or sixe dayes, expectinge the Governor answere, whether 
he would suffer them to passe upp the said river, to trade there or not; and noe answere beinge 
broughte they weighed theire anchors, and wente upp the river. And after they had bine in 
trade there by the space of tenn dayes or thereabouts, there came upp an officer from the said 
fforte with twoe letters from the said Governor, and that officer did commannde them in the 
Governors name, to give over tradinge there, and to departe from thence. And presently 
thereuppon parte of the goodes, which the merchant and other of the companye had landed 
for to trade, were broughte abord the said shippe againe by her owne shallopp, and the saide 
merchants factor and the rest of the companye, which were there on shoare, and the rest of the 
said goodes were broughte abord her by the Dutch, in theire owne boate; and then the Dutch 
weighed the anchors of the said shippe the William, and broughte them abord her by the 
commannde of the said officer. Whereuppon her companye to keepe her from runninge on 
shoare, putt her under saile, and beinge forbidden to trade there, sailed downe the said river. 
And hee also sayeth that there was a note sett upp againste the gate of the cheife forte there, 
the effecte of which note (: as a fHemminge that belonged to that fforte tould this deponent :) was, 
that the Governor did thereby straightlye chardge and commannde all his people, that uppon 
paine of loosinge theire head and all theire wages, none of them should give any certificate to 
the Englishe, how they were used by the Dutch, and kepte from tradinge there: and further 
hee cannott depose. 

To the third he sayeth, that the voijage of the said shippe was overthrowne by the iniuries 
and wronges, done unto her Companye, in not sufferinge them to trade there; and the 
merchants that freighted and sett her forth, have bine thereby greatly dampnified ; and further 
hee cannott depose, savinge he sayeth, that whitest the said shippe was in trade in the said 
river, there came some Indians abord hir, which did tell this deponente (:as it was interpreted 
by afflemminge, that belonged to a dutch pinnace) that, if the said shippe the William did staye 
there, but one moone longer a nation, called the Maques, would come downe, and bringe with 
them fower thousand beaver skinnes. And another nation, called the Mahiggins, would come 
downe thither with three hundred skinnes more, every merchantable beaver skinne, beinge 
worth twentye shillinges at the leaste. 

Dicto die. 

6. John Johson of the parishe of Saint Botolphes Algate, London cittizen, and cordwayner 
of London, aged about 4-5 yeares, sworne before the wor ,h William James, doctor of lawes, 
surrogate to the righte wor ,h Sir Henry Marten, Knight judge of his Majesties highe court of 
the Admiralltye. 

To the ffirstinterreye: he sayeth, that about a moneth before Christmas laste past, the shippe 
the William of London (whereof William Trevore was master) was victualled and sett forth 
by master Cloberye, master Delabarr and master Morehead of London merchantes, on a voyage 
to Plymouth in New England, there to lande some passengers, and from thence to Hutsons 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: II. 79 

river, betweene New England and Virginia, there to trucke awaye such goodes as shee carryed 
to the natives of those countryes for beaver and other furrs; the premisses hee knoweth to be 
true, beinge cooke of the said shippe, the said voyage. 

To the second he sayeth, that after the arrivall of the said shippe into Hutsons river, neere 
Manhattans forte (beinge inhabited by the Dutch ) the Governor comannded all her companye 
to leave their shippe, and to come uppe to the forte, where they stayed about an houre, and then 
returned abord theire shippe againe. And afterwards wente further upp into the river to trade, 
and there Jacob Jacobson Elkins, the factor of the said shippe (whoe was well knowne to the 
Dutch and also to the Indians) wente on shoare together with this deponente and some other 
of the said shippes companye, and landed diverse goodes to trucke with the Indians, and 
erected a tent for themselves to lodge in, and putt their goodes in, and after they had bine there 
in trade some fewe dayes, the Dutch came and pitched a tent there, likewise to hinder the 
trade of the Englishe. But yet notwithstandinge the Indians did soe well affecte the said Jacob 
Jacobson, that they did resorte unto him, and were more willinge to trade with him then with 
the Dutch ; which the Dutch perceavinge, there came about a dozen dutch men, with half pikes, 
swords, musketts and pistolls, and forbade the factor, and the rest of the companye of the 
William, to trade there any longer ; but commannded them to departe and pulled downe their 
tent. Whereuppon the said factor and the rest of the Englishe were inforced to give over 
their tradinge, and sente parte of their goodes abord theire shippe againe in theire shallopp. And 
the Dutch would not stayetill the returne of the said shallopp, but took de rest of the Englishe 
goodes out of their tent, and carryed them together with the said factor and this deponente 
abord their shippe in a boate, belonging to the Dutch. And afterwards the Dutch weighed the 
said shippes anchors, and broughte them abord her, and commannded the companye of the said 
shippe to departe the said river; and further hee cannott depose. 

To the thirth hee sayeth, that by the injuries and wronges, done by the Dutch as aforesaid, 
the voyage of the said shippe the William was overthrowne; and accordinge as the companye 
of the said shippe, after they were putt from theire tradinge, did cast upp the remainder of the 
goodes abord her. There were soe many goodes, remayninge abord her, of her outwards 
landinge, as would have yeelded, if they had bine trucked an I done awaye to the Indians, att 
the rate, they had trucked awaye parte of her outwards ladinge in beaver and other skinnes 
and furrs, to the value of fower thousand poundes sterlinge. And to that some ( as hee beleeveth) 
the merchants that sett forth the said shippe, have bine dampnified by reason of the premisses; 
and that hee affirmeth uppon his oath to be true. 

7 November 1633. 

7. Jacob Jacobson Elkins, of Amsterdam merchant, aged about 42 yeares, sworne before the 
wor ih William Merricke, doctor of lawes, surrogate to the righte wor ,h Sir Henry Marten, 
Knight judge of his Majesties highe court off the Admiralltye. 

To the first interreye. hee sayeth, that within the time interrogate William Clobery, David 
Morehead and Johnde la Barr, of London merchants, att their owne proper costs and chardges 
did freighte, victuall and sett forth the interrogate shippe, the William of London (whereof 
William Trevore was master) and did lade diverse goodes abord her, with intent, that she 
sould goe to Hutsons river in New England, within the dominions of the Kingh of England, 
to trade and trucke away such goodes, as she carryed to the natives of those countries, for 
beaver skinnes and other skinnes and furrs; the premisses hee knoweth to bee true, for that hee 
was factor for the said merchants in that voyage. 



80 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

To the second hee sayeth, that the said shippe, the William arrived att the forte, called 
Manhattan, als Amsterdam, in the said Hutsons riv.er, uppon the twelvth daye of April!, 
last past ; and sayeth, that the entrance of the said river is in the latitude of fourtie degrees 
and a halfe or thereaboutes, and in longitude aboud one and fortie degrees and a halfe. And 
after theire arrivall neere that forte, this deponente sente the Chirurgeon of the said shippe on 
shoare to the said forte, to intreate the Governor to come abord the said shippe the William. 
Where uppon the said Governor bad the chirurgeon to comannde the master of the said 
shippe ; and this axiadate beinge the factor to come on shoare to the fort, and to aske them, if 
they did knowe the Prince of Orange. And thereuppon this deponente with the chirurgeon 
and gunner of the said shippe went on shoare to the fort, where the said Governor and others 
were sittinge in counsell together. And the said Governor demannded his deponente, wherefore 
hee was come thither, and what his business was. And this deponente replyed : to trade with 
the natives there, as hee had formerly done, for beaver and otter skinnes, and other skinnes 
and furrs. And then the said Governor asked him for his Commission, whereunto this 
deponente answered, that he was not bound to shewe it, for that he was then within the King 
of Englands dominions, and for that he was a servante to the subiectes of the said Kinge; and 
desired of them to see what Commission they had, to plante there, within the King of 
Englands dominions. And the said Governor replyed, that he had conferred with his 
counsell, and that hee found it not fittinge, that they should passe upp the said river for 
that that whole countrye did (as he said) belonge to the Prince of Orange, and not to the 
Kinge of England. And after the said shippe had stayed there five dayes before the said 
forte, this deponente wente to the forte, to speake with the Governor, to see if hee 
would suffer them in a friendly manner to passe up the said river; and he tould the said 
Governor, if he would not give him his good will soe to doe, hee would goe upp the said river 
without it, although it cost him his life. Whereuppon the Governor commannded all the 
companye of the said shippe to come on shoare. And in the presence of them all, the said 
Governor commannded, that the Prince of Orange his Magge should bee putt upp iu the forte, 
and three peeces of ordnance to bee shott off for the honor of the said Prince. And then 
this deponente comannded the gunner of the said shippe the William, to goe abord and putt 
upp the englishe flagge, and to shoote of three peeces of ordnance for the honor of the King of 
England. And then the said Governor badd this deponente, take heede, that it did not cost 
him his necke, or his (:the said Governors). And after the premisses this deponente and the 
companye of the William wente upp the said river to trade, and comminge neere the fort, 
called Orange, the Governor of that forte would not suffer theire shallopp to come to the 
shoare, to trade there. Whereuppon this deponente wente a mile belowe that forte, and there 
sett upp a tent, and carryed all theire goodes on shoare, and was in trade with the Salvages. 
And the Dutch sett upp a tent by the said englishe tent, to hinder theire trade as much as 
they could. But this deponente beinge well acquainted with the Salvages (havinge heretofore 
lived foure yeare with them) them all came to trade with him ; and after he hath bine there 
in trade about fourteene dayes, there came upp a pinnace from the lower fort, manned with 
the souldiers and seamen, to drive this exaidate and companye from tradinge there. And 
before the comminge of that pinnace, there were twoe other pinnace, lyinge neere the said 
shippe the William, to hinder her trade. And then there came souldiers from both the saide 
dutch forts with musketts, halfe pikes, swords and other weapons, and beate some Indians, 
which came to trade with this deponente, and commannded this exaidate and companye to 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: II. 81 

departe from thence, sayinge that that land was theirs, they havinge boughte it of the Salvages. 
And then the Dutch pulled downe the tente of the Englishe, and sente theire goodes abord, 
some in a shalloppe, belonginge to the William, and some in a boate, belonginge to the Dutch; 
and then the Dutch weighed the anchors of the William, and carryed them abord her. And 
afterwardes the said shippe goinge downe the said river againe, when she came to Manhatton 
fort, this deponente beinge there on shoare. The Governor commannded him to sende all 
the beaver and other skinnes on shoare to the fort, which this deponente and companye had 
gott in trucke with the Salvages; which this deponente refusinge to doe, the Governor then 
demannded a particular of all the skinnes that were abord the said shippe. Which particuler 
this deponent gave him ; and he also sayeth, that hee this deponente demannded a certificate 
for certeyne Hollanders, inhabitinge neere the said fort, of the behavio r of the Dutch towards 
the Englishe, and howe they had putt them from theire trade, as aforesaid. Which certificate 
was denyed him ; and the Governor caused a writinge, to be sett uppou the gate of that forte, 
thereby forbiddinge all his people uppon payne of death, to give any certificate to him or any 
of the Englishe, howe and in what manner they were used by the Dutch. And he also sayeth, 
that the names of some of the Dutch, which were principall actors in doinge of the wronges 
and iniuries aforesaid ; were as followeth, viz' Walter Vr-trill, 1 Governor of Amsterdam ftbrt, 
John van Remont.his Secretaiyr, Martyn Garetson, Courade Noteman 2 Ahuddus, 3 and Captaine 
Jacob Johnson Hesse, Counsellors of the said Governor, and Hance Jorison Houteu, Governor 
of the ftbrt of Orange ; and further hee cannott depose. 

To the third interreye: hee sayeth, that the voyage of the said shippe the William was 
overthrowne by the parties before mentioned, in not sufferinge her companye to trade there, 
as aforesaid. And that there were soe manye goodes, remayninge abord the said shippe, of 
her outwards ladinge ; when they were putt from theire trade, as would have purchased in 
trucke with the said Salvages (:att the rate as the rest of her goodes, which were trucked 
awaye, were alone awaye : ) five thousand beaver skinnes. And that hee is certeyne, hee should 
have had trucke for all the remainder of the said goodes, if the Dutch had suffered them to 
trade there; for that there are in the said river usually fifteene or sixteene thousand beaver 
skinnes yearly traded for; and for that the Salvages would not trade with the Dutch, as longe 
as this deponente was there. But did all resorte unto him ; and for the reasons aforesaid, hee 
sayeth that the said master Clobery, master Morehead and master Delabarr, the merchants that 
sett forth the said shippe, have bine dampnified by the wronges and injuries, done by the 
Dutch, as is aforesaid, to the value of ffive thousand pounds sterlinge att the least. And this 
hee afffrmeth uppon his oath to be true. 

1 Wouter van Twiller. 2 Notelman. 

3 Andreas Huddo. He came to New Netherland in 1629, and after sewing the government in various capacities for thirty- 
four years, died 4th November, 1663, at Appoquinimy, in the present State of Delaware, on his way to Maryland, — Ed. 



Vol. L 11 



82 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Resolution of the States General referring the preceding Documents. 

[ From the Register of Resolutions of the States General, in the Royal Archives at the Ilague. ] 

Tuesday, 13 June, 1634. 
Foiio 498. Received a letter from Mr. Joachimi, written at London on the 27 th May last, 

Messrs. Joachimi 

anaBrasser. also a letter from the same and Mr. Brasser, written conjointly, as aforesaid, the 

3 d instant, and besides the said letters, divers appendices containing matters for reflection ; 
which, being considered, it is resolved and concluded, that both the aforesaid letters, with the 
appendices, be placed in the hands of the Mr. Vosbergen, to extract therefrom the points on 
which resolution is required. 



«■■»■■» 



Resolution of the States General changing some of the Members of the Committee 
on the differences between the Company and the Patroons. 

[ From the Register of Resolutions of the Slates General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Thursday, 15 th June, 1634. 
Foiio 499. After deliberation, it is hereby resolved and concluded to substitute Mr. 

Beaumont in place of Mr. de Knuyt, and Mr. Staackmans in place of Mr. Lecklama, 
in consequence of the absence of both of them; and that, for the purpose of aiding in the 
despatch of business, the other, their High Mightinesses' deputies in the matter in difference 
west in.iia company between the Directors of the West India Company on the one part, and the 

against 

the Piuitcn of Patroons, planters of New Netherland, on the other side. 

New Netherland. r 



Resolution of the Stales General on the Report on Mr. JoachimUs last Despatch. 

[From the Register of Resolutions of the States General, In the Royal Archives at the Hague.] 

Tuesday, 20 th June, 1634. 

Foiio mo. ]yj r- Vosbergen reported that he hath, in virtue of their High Mightinesses' 

resolution of the 13 th instant, examined a certain letter from Mr. Joachimi, 

written in London on the 27 ,h May last, and found that the said letter sets forth, among other 

injured Englishmen things, that Mess™ William Clobery, David Morehead and John de la Barre, 

merchants at London aforesaid, having fitted out a ship to trade in Hudson's 

river (as they call it) were prevented trading there and thereabout, by the officers of the 

west India com- West India Company of this country, whereby they maintain to have been 

v * ay ' injured ; claiming damages for their loss. Which being taken into consideration, 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: II. 83 

it is resolved and concluded, that this matter shall, by extract hereof, be communicated to the 
present Directors, deputies of the aforesaid Company, in order that they cause information to be 
taken as to the true merits of this case, and instruct the said Mr. Joachimi accordingly, that he 
may know how to comport himself in the premises. 



Resolution of the States General respecting the Committee on the differences between 

the Company and the Patroons. 

[ From the Register of Resolutions of the States General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Wednesday, 21 st June, 1634. 
roiio ms. After deliberation, it is hereby resolved and concluded, to substitute Mr. 
Huygens, in place of Mr. Arnhem, (absent) to assist the other, their High Mightinesses' 
deputies, in investigating the questions and differences which have arisen between the 
Patroons, planters, on the one part, and the West India Company on the other; and further, 
to proceed according to the original Commission. 



Patroons of New Netherland to the States General. June, 1634. 

[From the Original, in the Royal Archives at the Hague, in the Loketkas of the States General ; Division West Induche Compngnie. Loket K., 
Letter L., No. 6 ; part 5 of Bundle entitled " Stukken rakende den Vryen handel op en in de Brazils. Ao 1633." ] 

High and Mighty Lords. 

Whereas, in pursuance of the resolution dated 27th March, 1634, adopted at the Assembly 
of the XIX., and the petition presented to your High Mightinesses and postiled (geaiios/illeert), 
the Patroons of New Netherland are, by their High Mightinesses' letters dated 13th May 
following, cited to appear at the Hague; the Patroons have deemed it expedient to submit to 
your High Mightinesses: 

That your High Mightinesses, by Charter dated 3d June, 1621, granted to all inhabitants, 
stockholders in the within named Company exclusively, the navigation, peopling and trade to 
the West Indies, within the limits therein described, investing XIX. persons with the entire 
management thereof; expressly stipulating, that your High Mightinesses, on being required to 
prosecute the infraction and contravention of such public resolutions, shall cause the same 
to be repaired and maintained. 

But the principal stockholders having solicited your High Mightinesses for further 
satisfaction, your High Mightinesses, by amplification, agreed and approved that the first two 
vacancies in the Board of Directors at Amsterdam and Zealand ; item, the first in the 
Maese Chamber, should successively be supplied by the principal stockholders of the respective 



g 4 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Chambers, leaving them to protect whatever regarded them and their right, both in the 
Assembly of the XIX. and in the aforesaid Chambers. 

The Company, reduced to this firm order and government, took specially to heart your 
High Mightinesses' motives contained in the last part of the second capital article of the 
Charter, containing two subjects; namely, contracting and forming alliances with princes and 
natives of the countries within their limits, or promoting the population of productive 
and uninhabited regions. 

Experience has shown that the prudent management of the Company did not attend the 
attempts to carry this out in divers quarters, both on the Wild coast and in New Netherlands 
the conduct of the people was not regulated; the expenses were excessively high, and the want 
of success beyond expectation. The accounts having been frequently reviewed at the 
Assembly of the XIX.; the supplies requisite for the planting having been compared with 
the returns received from the Colonies, it was finally decreed and enacted, at the Assembly 
of the XIX., on the 10 ,h March, 1628, in the presence of your High Mightinesses' deputies, the 
Directors delegated by the respective Chambers, the Directors and assessors from the principal 
stockholders, for the behoof of all the stockholders in the said Company, by virtue of the 
Charter, to draw up Freedoms and Exemptions, for the benefit of the General West India 
Company, and advantage of the Patroons, masters and private persons. 

26 February, 1629. Commissioners reported to the Assembly of the XIX., and it was 
resolved to make an Order, resuming the draft of the planters, at the next ensuing meeting; 
to consider the proposals of certain respectable principal stockholders, to draw out the 
differential points and refer them to the Chambers. 

18 April, 1629. Points of Reference were circulated; in article 2 of which, the respective 
Chambers were requested to appear fully instructed to conclude whether the articles of 
Freedoms and Exemptions submitted at various preceding Assemblies, with the annexed new 
articles, demanded by divers principal stockholders, might be amplified and amended according 
to circumstances. 

29 May, 1629. Commissioners are named, on resuming the Order in regard to Planters, to 
submit the draft to the Assembly of the XIX. 

7 June, 1629. The Freedoms are enacted in terms as hereunto annexed. 

Whereupon some Directors of the before named Company, in addition to the great interest 
they possessed with their next friends in the said Company, (who imported [to the value of] 
more than two tons of gold;) animated with new zeal to carry out their High Mightinesses' 
intention, and hoping in consequence for God's blessing, preceded all the other stockholders by 
way of a good example, saving the aforesaid Company from expenses, troubles and heavy 
charges, and further involved themselves by undertaking divers Patroonships, the expenses 
whereof, incurred and laid out to this day, amount to not far from one ton of gold, cash down, 
and are yearly taxed, in addition, with at least 45 thousand guilders for the support of three of 
their Patroonships. 

The Patroons proceeding on daily, notwithstanding, bought and paid for not only the 
grounds belonging to the chiefs and natives of the lands in New Netherland, but also their 
rights of sovereignty (jura Majestatis) and such others as they exercised within the limits of 
the Patroons' purchased territories. 

So that on the 2S ,h November, 1630, were read at the Assembly of the Directors, the deeds 
of conveyance of the lands and jurisdictions purchased from the Saccimaes, the Lords of the 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: II. 85 

Country, executed for the behoof of the Patroons, their successors; and the new proprietors 
were accordingly thereupon congratulated. 

On the 2 d Decemher, in the year aforesaid, the patents sent to the Patroons from New 
Netherland were in like manner also again read, recorded in the Company's Register, ordered 
by the Assembly to be ensealed with the seal of New Netherland ; the Patroons were again 
congratulated and handed their patents. 

16 ,h ditto. The Patroons, on resolution of the Assembly, delivered to the Company's counsel, 
a perfect list of their undertaken patroonships. 

S ,h January, 1631. The Patroons' Colonies were ex supra abundanti confirmed, on submitting 
the question to the Assembly of the XIX., holden in Zealand. 

Confiding fully in the before related acts and solemnities, the Patroons would never have 
incurred any expense, had they ever imagined that the Freedoms and Exemptions, which were 
a mutual contract of profit and loss, agreed to by their High Mightinesses' Deputies, the 
Directors of the respective Chambers, the Directors and Assessors of the principal Stockholders, 
and accepted and entered on by the respective Patroons in all sincerity, would have been at 
anytime questioned and pulled to pieces; but, on the contrary, they supposed and felt assured, 
that their High Mightinesses would, in course of time, maintain the Patroons, and, if necessary, 
when requested, provide them with greater privileges, as a reward for their exceeding zeal, in 
enlarging the boundaries of these countries and in consideration of the heavy outlays and 
perilous dangers which their people and property must experience, and have already sustained, 
both on land and water. 

But, alas! your High Mightinesses will remark what damage the change of persons and the 
unsteadiness of humors have brought on this praiseworthy Company and the good Patroons. 

The manifold occupations relating to the planting of Colonies, the articles of Exemptions 
and Freedoms, drawn up A 1628 ; revised, enlarged and accepted by the Patroons in 1629; 
who, A° 1630, were congratulated thereupon ; A° 1631, ex superabundant confirmed, are 
secretly undermined on the 30 ,h October, 1631, when new articles were proposed, thereby the 
previous Freedoms and Exemptions were no longer obtainable ; the Patroons particularly 
commanded to perform things which experience taught them were impracticable: Yea, all the 
Exemptions were drawn into dispute. 

2S May, 1632. Some of the principal stockholders suggested to them to bring in gravamina 
against the amended freedoms. 

1 June, 1632, is drawn up and enacted a certain placard, purporting, as it appears, to be in 
favor of the Patroons, against private individuals carrying on the prohibited trade in peltries 
in New Netherland ; according to the copy hereunto annexed. 

But, converted, through evil council, by resolution of the lS lh November, 1632, to the injury 
and prejudice of the Patroons, whereby the Exemptions and Freedoms, so solemnly enacted 
on the 7 lh June, 1629, on which the patroonships were registered, are, it is particularly to be 
remarked, disavowed. 

And, in order to deprive the Patroons altogether of the trade, the Director in New 
Netherland was ordered to appoint commissaries and assistants in all the patroonships, to 
affix the placard and in no wise to suffer any of the Patroons to interfere in the fur trade. 

The Director had no sooner arrived in New Netherland, than he proceeded against the 
Patroons pursuant to the orders given him. 



gg NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Whereupon the Patroons were under the necessity of submitting their grievances to 
the Assembly of the XIX., and it was mutually agreed to refer all differences arising therefrom, 
to their High Mightinesses' decision. 

The Patroons have accordingly handed in, at the request of the committee of the Directors, 
the following points of their pretensions and well founded claim. 

Pretension and Claim of the Patroons of New Netherland, delivered to their 
High Mightinesses' Deputies on the l6 tU June, 1634, against the Directors 
the Incorporated West India Company. 

1. 
That the Freedoms and Exemptions promised and granted to the Patroons and their people 
within the limits of New Netherland and the dependencies thereof, must be truly maintained 
and observed by the Incorporated West India Company, according to their tenor and 
contents; and are to be holden as a mutual contract, binding on both sides, whereby the 
Patroons were invited to send their people and goods thither; in consequence whereof, they 
claim to enjoy inviolate, the privileges contained therein. 



That the Company having up to the 19 th December, 1G33, repeatedly called in question the 
conceded Freedoms, are bound to make good the manifest damages caused thereby to 
the Patroons. 

3. 

That in the Exemptions and Freedoms, mention only was made of the property of those lands 
of which the Company could, by virtue of its charter, dispose ; and such extension is considered 
as referring alone to the fertile and uninhabited lands, or lands on which settlements were 
found of particular Indians, having no chief, whom the Patroons were bound to satisfy for the 
soil : In addition to these, within the limits and extensions of the purchased patroonships, 
exist Lordships having their own rights and jurisdictions, which the chiefs of said nations have 
ceded to the Patroons, exclusive of the proprietorship of the soil, as can be seen by their deeds 
of concession and conveyance. The Patroons maintain that such prerogatives and advantages 
in that country, belong absolutely to them; and that the Company hath no more power over the 
Patroons, as purchasers of such lands, than it had over the lords Sachems, the sellers, inasmuch 
as their High Mightinesses' intention by the charter notoriously was, not to abridge any person 
in what is his, and consequently cannot be burdened with the Venia testandi, justice and police 
which are repugnant to the right already acquired by the Patroons. 

4. 
That under the term goods, mentioned in Articles X., XIII. , XXVI., must necessarily be 
understood such merchandise, without which the permitted trade along the coast of Florida and 
Newfoundland, cannot be carried on, nor the soil of the Patroonships paid for. Item, shoes 
and stockings and other necessaries of the people, not in use among the natives of the country, 
ought to be among the indispensable articles for agriculture, of use only to the tenants of the 
Patroons; every description of which the Company has promised to convey over for nothing. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS : II. 



That the Company not having ships, or room in their ships, for the use of the Patroons, 
cannot, conformably to the Xl lh Article, refuse or any longer withhold their written consent from 
the Patroons, officially demanding the same, whereby the latter would lose the season and 
voyage, from which the ruin of the Colonies, or at least great loss, would follow. 

6. 

That all places in New Netherland, the island of Manhattan excepted, are, by the XII th 
Article, free for the plantation of Colonies. 

7. 

That the Patroons may sail from the coast of Florida to Newfoundland, paying 5 per centum 
recognition; therefore the Patroons cannot be prevented sending ships or yachts, with all sorts 
of goods to New Netherland, without which the aforesaid coasts cannot be frequented, nor 
prizes taken from the enemy. Art. XIII., XIV., XVI., XXIII. 

S. 
Whereas the Company, Art. XV., first absolutely, and afterwards by restriction, reserved the 
fur trade every where on the coast of New Netherland and the places circumjacent thereto, 
the Patroons say, that the inland trade, together with the territories of the patroonships, is 
not included therein; and, therefore, that the Patroons are not obligated to pay, within their 
limits, one guilder on each merchantable skin. Item, that the Patroons, on payment of one 
guilder for each merchantable beaver or otter skin, may procure in trade for goods obtained 
there, all sorts of furs, outside their Colonies, and every where about the coasts of New 
Netherland, and the places circumjacent thereto, where the Company had no commissaries at 
the time of granting the Freedoms. Item; Wampum being, in a manner, the currency of the 
country, with which the produce of the interior is paid for, must be considered as obtained 
goods, being the representative thereof. 

9. 

That the Company, pursuant to the tenor of Art. X. and XVI., is obliged here, and by its 
servants in New Netherland, to give seasonable notice to the Patroons and their commissaries, 
when requested, of the places which remain vacant in its ships, in order that they may 
regulate themselves in regard to their people, goods, cattle and implements; and having 
accommodation in their ships, it is not at liberty to refuse the Patroons the freighting thereof, 
nor charge more than the allowed freight. 

10. 

That the appeals to the Director and Council, reserved in civil actions of fifty guilders 
and upwards, do not prejudice in the least the higher jurisdictions and other privileges of 
the Patroons. 

11. 

i 

Whereas the Company, Art. XXV., hath promised to take all Colonists of New Netherland 
into its safe keeping, to assist in defending them, as well as possible, against all internal and 
foreign wars and violence, with the power it may have there; the Company, or its servants, 



8 g NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

failing so to do, are bound to make good the damage which the Patroons' people, cattle and 
goods there, have thereby suffered and still suffer. 

12. 
That the Freedoms and Exemptions, are permanent for all partners, without the Company 
having the power to infringe or restrict them, to the prejudice of the Patroons. 

13. 
That the expenses of traveling, consultations, fees &c, incurred or to be incurred by the 
Patroons, for the maintenance and justification of the Freedoms and Exemptions, for the service 
of the Company and advantage of all partners, ought to be defrayed by the Incorporated West 
India Company. 

14. 
That the Company cannot affix, in the Patroons' Colonies, without their knowledge, and 
against their will, placards excluding every one from the entire fur trade, nor introduce 
Commissaries there to trade; nor constrain the Patroons' inhabitants, by an oath drawn up for 
that purpose, not to trade in peltries, wampum or maize. 

15. 
That the Patroons' Officers and Magistrates in New Netherland may oppose themselves 
thereto; and should the Company, at any time, enter by force of arms, and affix such placards, 
the Patroons' courts are at liberty to tear down the affixed placards, as being contrary to their 
freedoms. And on the Patroons' Superior Officers being arrested therefor, which we protest 
against, should it ever be adjudged that their Patroons have lost the granted Freedoms, such 
proceedings shall be declared null and void ; the Company charged in future to abstain from 
such practices, and to make good the damage caused thereby. 

16. 

Finally, in case the Company seek, by direct or indirect means, to induce the Patroons to 

abandon their Colonies, it shall be declared bound to make good all incurred costs and 

damages which the Patroons, for causes aforementioned, should happen to experience or 

have experienced. 

(Signed), M. Paauw. 

S. Blommaert. 

Kiliaen Van Rensselaer. 

Hendrick Hamel. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS : II. 89 

Answer of the West India Company to the Patroons. 

[ From the Original in Ihe Royal Archives at the Hague ; Lc&e£ka& of the States General, Division Wtat Indisch* Compagnie ; Loket K., Letter L., 
No. 6, part 5 of the Bundle, entitled "Slukken rakende den Vryen handel oh en in de Brazils. Ao. 163S.*' ] 

Answer of the West India Company to, and against the Pretension and Claim of 
Michael Paauw, Kiliaen Van Renselaar and Samuel Blommaert, Patroons 
in New Netherland, handed in and delivered to their High Mightinesses' 
Deputies. 

The Directors of the West India Company say, that heretofore each Patroon of the Colonies 
in New Netherland, hath given in his separate remonstrance to the Assembly of the Nineteen, 
with request that the aforesaid Assembly dispose thereof; it can therefrom be seen that the 
pretensions of the aforesaid Patroons ditfer, and are even erected on different foundations, so 
that they cannot be well, nor speedily nor regularly arranged, much less treated of, in one 
suit in the name of all the Patroons. The Directors aforenamed, therefore, maintain that each 
of the said Patroons shall be bound to institute his suit separately, with vouchers, and therein 
set forth what he hath, both in general and in particular, against the Company, and afterwards 
draw pertinent conclusion. 

And in order that a termination be put at once to said differences, that the above mentioned 
Patroons be obliged to mention, in their respective demands all, as well general as particular, 
questions of which they have any knowledge, and on which they may intend to institute any 
action against the aforesaid Company, on pain, in default thereof, of their being and remaining 
nonsuited, as they might be, if the Directors had obtained a mandamus on the motions 
(vantlsen) of the aforesaid Patroons, to have suit instituted, pursuant to the text in L diffamari 
C. de ingen. et mantim. 

Nevertheless, if the aforesaid Patroons declare that they have no particular claim against the 
aforesaid Company, and will not institute any action on account thereof, and desire and expect 
only a decision on the general points which concern the aforesaid Patroons conjointly ; the 
Directors will not make any opposition to the examining and deciding the claim regarding 
the said general points by them conjointly instituted, saving the aforesaid Company's exception 
and defence to the contrary. 

(Signed), Albert Kounraut Burgh. 

Jacques van Horn. 
Exhibited, 23. June, 1634. 



Reply of the Patroons to t/te West India Company. 

[ From the Original in the Royal Archives at the Hague ; Loketkaa of the States General, Division, West Indisehe VompagnU ; Loket K., Letter L., 

No. 6, part D of the Bundle. ] 

High and Mighty Lords. 

The Patroons of the Colonies in New Netherland having seen the writing delivered on 
behalf of the Directors of the West India Company, in opposition to the demand and claim of 
Vol. I. 12 



QQ NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

the said Patroons, communicated in writing to your High Mightinesses, they say in reply to it: 
As the foundation of the suit which they may institute, in proper time, against the above named 
Directors, for indemnification of such damages and losses as they respectively shall happen 
to have suffered, because the aforesaid Directors have not allowed, nor suffered, them to 
realize the full effect of the granted Exemptions and Freedoms, mainly depends upon the 
force and tenor of said Exemptions and Freedoms ; and your High Mightinesses would 
be uselessly detained by the deduction of the damages and losses suffered by the Patroons 
in the planting and continuance of their respective Colonies, and the consequences thereof, 
in case the above named Directors are not bound to make good the aforesaid losses and 
damages, for having failed to carry out the aforesaid granted and accepted Exemptions and 
Freedoms; therefore, in order that they may not rashly enetr into a dispute with the above 
named Directors, about the aforesaid indemnity, they have deemed it necessary and essential 
to the despatch of business, first and foremost, to request your High Mightinesses (to whom, by 
resolution of the 27 th March last, adopted in the Assembly of the XIX., the differences of parties 
on both sides are referred ) to determine the force and tenor of the aforesaid Exemptions ; as 
the Pretension and Claim of the Patroons is directed to that and to no other end; in order that 
such judgment being delivered, the act being one of wrong and affecting all the Patroons in 
common, then the Patroons will have to state their respective losses and damages, and adopt 
pertinent conclusion thereon; the rather as, after the rendition of the aforesaid judgment, 
they shall have conjointly to determine upon the continuation or abandonment of their Colonies, 
and as there is no reason for postponing the said judgment until the decision on the Patroons' 
respective losses, which by reason of instruction and the distance of place, will experience 
some delay; meanwhile the Patroons, in their view of the aforesaid Exemptions and Freedoms, 
remain injured and would be further damaged in their means. The aforesaid Patroons are 
content, on the rendition of the above mentioned judgment, respectively to deliver in their 
declaration of damages and losses, and to proceed further in the matter, by a certain 
reasonable time, to be afterwards fixed by your High Mightinesses, according to the 
circumstances of affairs and the distance of places. And for these reasons, rejecting 
the dilatory notice of the aforesaid Directors, the abovenamed Patroons respectfully request 
your High Mightinesses to be pleased to order the aforesaid Directors to answer, peremptorily, 
their aforesaid declaration; and in default thereof, that your High Mightinesses would be 
pleased to render your judgment on the articles contained in the aforesaid petition, in such 
wise as shall appertain to just equity and right, and to the public service. 

Which doing, etc. 

(Signed) M. Paauw, 

S. Blommaert, 

Exhibited 22d June, 1634, and furnished Henbick Hamel, 

to opposite party for replication. Kiliaen van Rensselaer. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS : II. 91 

Resolution of the States General postponing a Decision on the preceding Pleadings. 

[From Iha Register of Resolutions of the States General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague.] 

Saturday, 24th June, 1634. 
F0U0629. Being heard, the report of Mess" Huygens and others, their High Mightinesses' 

Patroons Planters, deputies, who proceeded, pursuant to resolution, in the case of the Patroons, 
planters, of New Netherland against the West India Company. It is after previous 
deliberation, resolved and concluded, to postpone this mattter for twelve days; and parties 
shall, in the meanwhile, endeavor to settle their differences by agreement and mutual accord; 
and if not, their High Mightinesses will, at the end of the aforesaid time, have the said 
difference decided by their Deputies agreeably to the aforesaid resolution of authority 
thereunto granted. 



Subjects for the Consideration of the Assembly of the XIX. 1634. 

[ From the Original in the Royal Archives at the Hague ; File, West Indie. ] 

Points of Reference, whereupon all the Chambers of the West India Company 
are summoned to Amsterdam on the 31 July, 1634; extracted as far as 
relates to the matters of New Netherland. Exhibited 18 July, 1634. 

S ,h Point. 

As Ambassador Joachimi hath advised the Company of the claims of Jacob Eelkens, who 
sailed from England, amounting to 40 (at 50 thousand guilders, which he pretends to have lost 
in New Netherland, the members will be pleased to come prepared to resolve thereupon, 
according as it shall be most advantageous to the Company. 



The Assembly of the XIX. to the States General. 

[ From the Original in the Royal Archives at the Hague ; File, West Indie.] 

To the High and Mighty Lords States General of the United Netherlands. 

High and Mighty Lords. 

The year 1634 approaches now to a close, and the West India Company hath not, up to the 
present time, received the vote of the subsidy demanded by the Council of State, many months 
since, for its support for that year. 

Notwithstanding the Deputies from the XIX. have, with such great persistence, applied to 
your High Mightinesses therefor, from time to lime. 



92 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

And now clearly made manifest both to your High Mightinesses and to the respective 
provinces, that it is impossible for the Company to prosecute any longer the expensive war in 
Brazil, much less to accomplish any thing of advantage to this State. 

Unless your High Mightinesses continue to afford it liberal assistance, and not only promise 
the Company that, but also make them sensible of it. 

Meanwhile the Company abates nothing in the advancement of its affairs, but has done 
more than was expected from it. 

With what difficulty that was effected, your High Mightinesses can sufficiently understand, 
by comparing the heavy expenses of the war which it has now waged for so many years, with 
the subsidies voted us, and the trifling profits it has derived, up to this time, from the conquests. 

What the end of this is to be, we leave your High Mightinesses' prudent wisdom 
to consider. 

Of this we must, with all submission, warn your High Mightinesses; unless your High 
Mightinesses procure a vote of the required subsidies, and move the respective provinces, so 
that they will be received more promptly than heretofore, we see no prospect of meeting any 
longer the heavy expenses of the war. The great work in Brazil, which is now so far 
advanced, that an end to it is, in a manner, perceptible, will be interrupted and perhaps 
entirely fail, to the serious disgrace and injury of this State. 

Much more ought to have been done than the Company ever wished to solicit from your 
High Mightinesses, in order to accomplish an undertaking of such vast importance to the country, 
and not only to render that work secure, but to give the King of Spain employment elsewhere 
by way of diversion, so as advantageously to execute, meanwhile, the affair in Brazil and to 
allow this State to taste the fruits thereof. 

We have submitted to your High Mightinesses heretofore, many reasons which ought to 
move you hereunto, and could add others, were we not convinced that your High Miglitinesses 
understand them better, and give them as deliberate consideration as they deserve. 

We shall, therefore, not detain your High Mightinesses with a longer deduction, but conclude 
this, our remonstrance, with an humble request: 

That your High Mightinesses, in consideration of the duties lately and still daily performed 
by the Company beyond its ability, and of the benefit this State derived therefrom, 

May be pleased so to influence the respective Provinces that, finally, the required vote of 
subsidies may be obtained, if not more, at least in the same form as was demanded by the 
Council, and the effect thereof be realized as promptly as necessity requires. 

So that we may prosecute with renewed courage, and complete, with God's blessing, 
successfully our begun work, for the benefit of this State, and the humiliation of the 
common enemy. 

The Deputies of the XIX. are also instructed to explain to your High Mightinesses, certain 
difficulties they experience in New Netherland, from the English ; whereof Mr. Joachimi, your 
High Mightinesses' Ambassador, hath advised us. 

As the matter consists of a long narrative, and many circumstances, which would detain 
your High Mightinesses' Assembly too long, they respectfully request your High Mightinesses 
to be pleased to appoint a committee from your midst, to whom we may communicate the 
said representation, and submit the means whereby further inconveniences may be avoided. 

Which doing, &c. 

Exhibited 24 October 1634. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: II. 93 

Resolution of the States General on the preceding Memorial. 

[ From the Register of Resolutions of the States General, In the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Tuesday, 24 th October, 1634. 
Foiio8T8. Read the remonstrance of the attending Deputies of the Assembly of the XIX. 

piny. Ind Com " of the West India Company, lately holden at Amsterdam, requesting, for the 
reasons therein set forth, that their High Mightinesses would be pleased so to influence 
the respective provinces, that the West India Company may finally obtain the desired votes of 
subsidy. subsidy for this current year. 1G34, as prayed for by the general petition of the 

Council of State, for the behoof of the aforesaid Company, so that the latter may, with renewed 
courage, prosecute, and with God's blessing, successfully complete its begun work, to the 
advantage of this state, and the humiliation of the general enemy. 

Secondly, the above named remonstrants are also instructed to explain to their High 
Difficulty with the Mightinesses certain difficulties which manifest themselves in New Netherland 

English in New 

Nciheriand. with the English. Whereupon deliberation being had, it is resolved and 

concluded, on the first point, that the respective Deputies going to the provinces, with their 
High Mightinesses' credentials, shall also be instructed, as they are hereby directed, to encourage 
not only the vote and furnishing of the subsidy for the West India Company' for the current year, 
to the amount expressed in the general petition of the Council of State, but also the extinction 
of the arrears which the aforesaid Company, by previous votes, and otherwise still owes the 
respective provinces, and to withdraw. For that purpose, extracts of said arrearages shall be 
handed to the Deputies. And as regard the second point in this case, Messrs. Arnhem, 
Herberts, Swartsenburch, Marienburch and Schaffer, are requested and appointed to hear the 
explanation of the above named remonstrants, and to report thereupon. 



The Assembly of the XIX. to the States General. 

[ From the Original in the Eoyal Archives at the Hague ; File, entitled West Indie. ] 

To the High and Mighty Lords States General of the United Netherlands. 

High and Mighty Lords. 

The Deputies of the Assembly of the XIX. are instructed to complain to your High 
Mightinesses, that one Jacob Jacobsen Elkens, having entered the service of Mr. William 
Klobery and his assistants, with the ship, the William, whereof William Trevor was master, 
did in the past year 1633, 

In the month of April, come to the North River, in New Netherland, [opposite the island] of 
the Manhattes, in order to exchange his [merchandise] up that river for peltries and 
other [products.] 

And that under the feigned pretense that said river and adjacent country were in, and of, 
the Domain of his Majesty of Great Britain. 



94 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Without, however, holding, as far as is known to us, or being willing to exhibit, when 
demanded, by our agents, his Majesty's Instruction or Commission, which he might have for 
that purpose. 

Nevertheless, it is sufficiently notorious to all the world, and he, Jacob Elkens himself 
knows best of all, having been employed, even before the year 1614, in the service of those 
who then had your High Mightinesses' grant to trade, exclusively, to that river and the 
surrounding places. 

That said river and adjacent countries had been discovered in the year 1609, at the cost of 
the East India Company, before any Christians had ever been up said river, as Hudson testified, 
who was then in the service of said Company, for the purpose of discovering the northwest 
passage to China. 

And that your High Mightinesses' grant hath conferred, from that time down, on divers 
merchants, the exclusive trade in peltries there. 

Likewise, that one or more little forts were built, also under your High Mightinesses' chief 
jurisdiction, even before the year 1614, and supplied with people for the security of the 
said trade ; 

Further, that after these countries had passed into the hands of the incorporated West India 
Company, not only were the above named forts renewed and enlarged, but said Company 
purchased from the Indians, who were the indubitable owners thereof, the Island of the 
Manhattes, situate at the entrance of the said river, and there laid the foundation of a city. 

As also, not only on that river, but likewise on the South river, and others lying to the east 
of the aforesaid North river, divers natives and inhabitants of these countries, by the 
assistance of said Company, planted sundry Colonies, for which purpose were also purchased 
from the chiefs of the Indians, the lands and soil, with their respective attributes and 
jurisdictions. 

As is to be seen by divers deeds of conveyance and cession, executed in favor of the 
Patroons of the Colonies by the Sachems and Chief Lords of the Indians, and those who had 
any thing to say therein. 

So that said Company had occupied, settled and cultivated those countries, and carried 
on trade there from the commencement of their charter, without any one having justly 
[complained] of them for so doing, or endeavored by to destroy their trade, except 

some [transported ] landers, and namely: Jacob Elkens, who least of all [should do 

so : who] lately by false [representations] sought to persuade his Majesty of Great Britain, that 
those countries of New Netherland were a part of his domains in that quarter of North America. 

And although our Governor and officers there advised the aforesaid Jacob Elkens, in a 
friendly manner, to refrain from trading within their jurisdiction, yet he went, notwithstanding, 
higher up the river, and having pitched his tent on the shore, begun to trade with the Indians, 
the Company's allies. 

So that our officers were obliged, after various negotiations and protests, as more fully may 
be seen by the writings and authentic copies thereof existing, to weigh said Elkens' anchor, 
and to expel him from said river. 

And although the Company hath by such arrival, suffered serious damage, and their trade 
has been thereby particularly spoiled. 

And injurious seeds of division sown between the Indians and our people, who had previously 
lived together in good union. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: 11. 95 

And other serious mischiefs have proceeded therefrom, such as killing of men and cattle 

Whereof we expect fuller information by the next ship, which is now soon expected. 

So that we have great cause of complaint against, and serious losses and damages to claim 
from, the employers of this Jacob Elkens, of which, on the contrary, they complain against us, 
and pretend their losses are very great. 

To escape from, and to avoid these difficulties the better in future, the Deputies of the XIX. 
submit to your High Mightinesses' wise consideration, 

Whether it would not be best to communicate this matter to the Mr. William Boswel, the 
King of Great Britain's agent, 

In order to discover means whereby, first, this question, which is reasonable, may, by the 
intervention of his Honor on the one side, and Ambassador Joachimi on the other, be settled in a 
friendly manner; inasmuch as no suit has, so far as we know, been entered, up to the present 
time, against the Company, or complaint been made to his Majesty on the subject. 

And, secondly, future mischiefs may be avoided by a proper boundary line between his 
Majesty's, and your High Mightinesses', subjects. 

Inasmuch as the welfare of both depends on mutual good understanding. 

And a contrary course will afford an opportunity, whereby not only the Indians will be 
emboldened anew to kill the Christians, as the English heretofore sorely experienced in 
Virginia, and to [slaughter] our people for a much slighter [cause], but also the King of Spain 
[will be encouraged in his efforts] to rivet his chains [on us], : which otherwise 

by degrees from 

Exhibited 25 ,h October, 1634. 



Resolution of the States General on the difficulties with the English in New Netherland. 

[ From the Register of Resolutions of the States General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Wednesday, 25 th October, 1634. 
Foiio875. Mess™ Arnhem and the other, their High Mightinesses' Deputies have reported 

that, pursuant to yesterday's resolution, they have heard and considered the state of the 
Difficulty m New question and difference which arose in New Netherland between the English 
Neihenand. there and tnose f tne w e st India Company of these United Netherlands, and 

have submitted herewith to their High Mightinesses certain Representation on said question, 
communicated by the Directors of the West India Company aforesaid. Whereupon, deliberation 
being had, it is resolved and concluded that this State cannot by any means interfere therein, 
but leave the aforesaid matter to take its course ; but their High Mightinesses permit the 
delegated Directors to speak and confer hereupon, on behalf of the Company in particular, 
with Mr. Boswell, the Resident of his Majesty the King of Great Britain. 

1 The portions of the above within brackets or left blank, are not in the Dutch MS., the original of which is represented 
as worn or illegible in those parts. — Ed. 



9(3 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

New Project of Freedoms and Exemptions. 

[ From the MS., without date, in the Royal Archives at the Hague ; File, entitled West Indie, 1630—1635. ] 

Freedoms, Privileges and Exemptions, granted by the High and Mighty Lords 
States General, ex plenitudine potestatis, to all persons of condition, inhabitants 
of these countries, to be qualified thereunto by their High Mightinesses, as 
Lords and Patroonsof New Netherland, for the purpose of planting Colonies 
and introducing cattle there, all for the advancement of the Incorporated 
West India Company, and for the benefit of the inhabitants of these countries. 

Persons admissible thereunto by their High Mightinesses, being inclined to plant Colonies in 
New Netherland, shall be permitted to send thither, by all of the West India Company's ships 
and yachts going thither, three or four persons, to examine the state of things there, on condition 
of paying for board and passage out and home, six stuyvers a day, and those wishing to eat in 
the cabin, twelve stuyvers. 

2. 

And in case of offensive or defensive operations, they must lend assistance the same as others; 
and if any of the enemy's ships be captured, they shall also receive their share, pro rata, 
according to each person's quality; to wit, those not eating in the cabin the same as seamen, 
and those who board in the cabin, a share equal to that of the superior officers, calculated one 
with another. 

3. 

Herein shall be preferred such persons as shall be admitted first on their High Mightinesses' 
list. 

4. 
And for Lords and Patroons of New Netherland shall be acknowledged those who will, 
within six years from this time, (exclusive of the year of admission) undertake to plant in 
New Netherland a Colonie of forty-eight souls, on pain, in case of palpable neglect, of being 
deprived, at their High Mightinesses' discretion, of their acquired Freedoms, Privileges 
and Exemptions. 

5. 

NoxK.-what is But every one is notified that the Company reserves unto itself the Island of 

iUiludtted must be J l J 

company- ^othw- Manhattes, Fort. Orange, with the lands and islands appertaining thereunto, 
omitted""™ b °"° r Stolen Island, the land of Achassemes, Arasick and Hobokina, together with the Colonie 
of Swancndale. 

6. 
And from the very moment that the Lords and Patroons of New Netherland have 
designated the places where they wish to plant their Colonies, and have obtained admission 
thereto from their High Mightinesses, they shall be preferred before all others, for such lands 
as they have selected. 

7. 
But if they are not afterwards pleased with the places, or be deceived in the selection of 
the land, they shall have another opportunity to make a selection. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: II. 97 

8. 
And the Patroons of New Netherland may, by Deputy, at the places where they will plant 
their Colonies, extend their limits six miles along the sea coast or on both sides of a navigable 
river, and so deep landward in, as the Lords and Patroons shall demand, without any one 
approaching within seven or eight miles of them, against their will. 

9. 

And the first occupants shall not be prejudiced in their acquired right, but forever preserve 
the command over such bays, rivers and islands, as they shall have settled. 

10. 

And in propriety forever and always possess all the land situate within the Patroons' limits, 
together with all the fruits, superficies, minerals, rivers and fountains thereof, for them, their 
heirs or assigns, with high, middle and low jurisdiction, tenths, fishing, fowling, wind and 
[water] mills and all other privileges, preeminences and rights, to be holden as free, allodial 
and patrimonial property. 

11. 

And should the Patroons come to prosper in their Colonies, so far as to be able to found one 
or more towns or cities, they shall have authority to appoint officers and magistrates therein; 
enact laws and police, and make use of the titles and arms of their Colonies, according to their 
will and pleasure. 

12. 

The Patroons shall have the privilege of using for their own benefit, all adjoining lands, 
rivers and forests, until they shall be taken up by other Patroons. 

V3. 

The Patroons shall provisionally furnish proper instructions to their Colonies, in order that 
they be ruled and appointed, both in police and justice, conformably to the mode of 
government observed here. 

14. 

And they are empowered to send in the Company's ships, all their people and property 
bound thither, on paying for board as is hereinbefore stated in Article 1°; for freight of the 
merchandise, 5 per 100 cash on what the said goods have cost in this country; not including 
herein, however, cattle and agricultural implements, which the Company shall convey over for 
nothing; wherefore they shall reserve the fourth part of all ships and yachts which will sail 
thither; but the Patroons shall appropriate such vacant places for their fodder, they providing 
every thing necessary for the maintenance of the cattle. 

15. 

And their High Mightinesses shall take care that a ship or yacht shall sail at least yearly 

from Amsterdam to New Netherland, about the month of so that 

the Patroons here, and their Colonies in New Netherland, may never be obstructed in the 
execution of their good intentions. 

Vol. I. 1.3 



98 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

16. 
The Patroons shall, at all times, be privileged to send their own ships to New Netherland ; 
and in going and returning, to attack and conquer, offensively and defensively, the enemies of 
this state, and to secure thereby the same right as the Incorporated West India Company enjoys. 

17. 
The Patroons of New Netherland shall have the privilege of sailing and trading along the 
whole coast, from Florida unto Newfoundland, and to all the Wild islands of the West Indies. 

18. 
The Patroons shall likewise be at liberty, every where around the coasts of New Netherland 
and the places adjacent thereunto, to trade their acquired goods for all sorts of wares and 
merchandises to be had there, without any exception. 

19. 
On the arrival of such wares here in the ships of the West India Company, there shall be 
paid for the freight of each merchantable skin, whether otter or beaver, one guilder; and on 
all bulky articles, such as pitch, tar, ashes, timber, grain, fish, salt, rosin or such like, ten 
guilders per last (estimated at 4000 lbs.), on condition that the Company's seamen shall be 
obliged to wheel and bring the salt on ship board; with this understanding, that the Patroons' 
own ships shall be always preferred, and on coming to this country, shall enjoy all such 
benefits and Freedoms, as are granted to the Company. 

20. 
All wares not enumerated in the preceding article, and not being bulky articles (last waerenj 
shall pay for freight 1 guilder per hundred weight, and wines, brandies, vinegars, verjuice, 10 
guilders per barrel. 

21. 
Their High Mightinesses promise the Patroons not to impose on their Colonies, any Custom, 
Toll, Excise, Impost or other tax, but allow them to enjoy such Freedoms and Exemptions as 
are granted, or shall hereafter be granted by Charter to the Company. 

22. 

No person shall be at liberty to take from the service of the Patroons any of their Colonists, 
whether man, woman, son, daughter, maid-servant, or man-servant, even though solicited by 
the Colonists themselves to receive them (except by written consent of their Patroons), during 
the term of years for which they are bound to their Patroons; after the expiration of which 
time, the Patroons shall be at liberty to send back to this country the Colonists who leave 
their service, and then first discharge them ; and if any Colonist run away to another Patroon, 
or resume his freedom contrary to his contract, other Patroons of New Netherland shall be 
bound, and do promise their High Mightinesses, to cause him, as far as lies in his power, to 
be surrendered into the hands of his Patroon or his Commissary, in order that proceedings 
may be instituted against such Colonist, according to circumstances. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: II. 99 

23. 
The Patroons discovering shores, bays, or places adapted to Fishing, or the manufacture of 
Salt, may take possession of them, and have them worked in perfect property, to the exclusion 
of all others. 

24. 

They shall be privileged, also, to send their ships every where to fish, and so to go, with 
what has been caught, to all neutrals and friends of this State. 

25. 
And if any Colonist belonging to a Patroon happen to discover minerals, precious stones, 
crystals, marble, pearl fishery or such like, they shall remain the Patroon's property, provided 
he allow such discoverer, as a premium therefor, so much as the Patroon shall have stipulated 
for that purpose. 

26. 
Their High Mightinesses, together with the Incorporated West India Company, promise to 
assist the Patroons' Colonists against all foreign and domestic wars and violence, with whatever 
force they have in, and shall bring to, New Netherland. 

27. 
The Patroons of New Netherland, shall be bound to purchase from the Lords Sachems in 
New Netherland, the soil where they propose to plant their Colonies, and shall acquire such 
right thereunto as they will agree for with the said Sachems. 

28. 
The Patroons shall also particularly exert themselves to find speedy means to maintain a 
Clergyman and Schoolmaster, in order that Divine Service and zeal for religion may be planted 
in that country ; and send, at first, a Comforter of the sick thither. 

29. 
The respective Patroons shall be privileged to keep an agent at the Island Manhattes, who 
shall attend as a member of Council there, and have seat and vote at all the meetings and 
deliberations, in order thereby to be able to promote the necessary protection of the Colonies. 

30. 

Nora, vagabonds Their High Mightinesses shall exert themselves to provide the Patroons with 

and outcasts, who . , . 1 , n , , t 1 i « i j^* • 

live on aims, and in persons bound to service, who shall be obliged to serve out their bounden time, in 

Idleness and crime, ° .... 

are hereby meant. a [[ obedience, for their board and clothing only, which being done, on bringing 
to this country a certificate thereof from the Patroons or their Commissaries, such persons 
shall be here restored to their former state and freedom. 

31. 

In like manner, the Incorporated West India Company shall allot to each Patroon twelve 
Black men and women out of the prizes in which Negroes shall be found, for the advancement 
of the Colonies in New Netherland. 



]QQ NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

32. 
The Incorporated West India Company undertakes to maintain the fort and stronghold on 
the Island of Manhatten, in good defence and garrison, and to allow the Patroons to enjoy 
peaceably and quietly these Exemptions, Privileges and Freedoms. 

33. 

All private and poor people (onvcrmogen personen) are excluded from these Exemptions 
Privileges and Freedoms, and are not allowed to purchase any lands or grounds from the 
Sachems or Indians in New Netherland, but must repair under the jurisdiction of the respective 
Lords Patroons. 

Thus done and enacted. 



Subject for the Consideration of the Assembly of the XIX. 1636. 

( From the Original in the Royal Archives at the Hague : File, West Indie. ] 

Points of Reference whereupon all the Chambers of the West India Company 
are summoned to Amsterdam on the 1 st of June, 1636, extracted so far as 
relate to the affairs of New Netherland. Exhibited 24 ,h May, 1636. 
7 th Point. 

They shall also come prepared to resume and, if necessary, amend the order for the Director 
of New Netherland, Curacao, Cape de Verde, Senegal, Gambia, Sierra Leone, the Wild Coast, 
Fernando Noroncho and the Colonies planted here and there, and for this purpose each in his 
place shall bring with him all books and papers for information thereon. 



Resolution of the States General on the Petition of Lubbert Van Dinclagen. 

[ From the Register of Resolutions of the States General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Saturday, 30 ,h August, 1636. 

New Ne°therilnd Read the petition of Lubbert van Dinclagen, fiscal and sheriff of the General 

Lubbert van Dmoia- j ncor p 0ra ted West India Company, in New Netherland, complaining of the wrong 
which, he maintains, has been done him in the service of the aforesaid Company, under the 
management of the Chamber residing at Amsterdam. Whereupon deliberation being had, it 
is resolved and concluded, that the aforesaid petition, with the papers annexed, be sent to 
the Directors in the aforesaid Chamber, in order to afford the petitioner satisfaction; or, in 
default thereof, to inform their High Mightinesses of the true circumstances and correct state 
of the petitioner's case, in order, on seeing it, that further proceedings be had thereon, as to 
the same shall appertain. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: II. 101 

States General to the Amsterdam Chamber of the West India Company. 

[ From the Minute in the Royal Archives at the Hague ; File, West Indie. ] 

To the Directors of the Chamber of the West India Company, at Amsterdam. 

The States. 

LnbbertvanDinck- You wil1 see wnat Lubbert van Dincklagen, fiscal and sheriff in New 
Netherland, has represented to, and requested of us, by the accompanying 
petition and annexed papers, the original of which we have resolved to send you herewith; 
requesting that you will cause satisfaction to be given therein to the petitioner; or, in default 
thereof, inform us of the correct circumstances and true state of the petitioner's case; in order, 
on seeing it, that further proceedings be had thereon, as to the same shall appertain. 

Done 30th August, 1636. 



>■■» » ■■ «» 



Resolution of the States General on another Petition of Mr. Van Dinclagen. 

[From the Register of Resolutions of the States General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague.] 

Monday, 6th October, 1636. 
Foiio 774. On the further petition of Lubbertus van Dinclagen, late advocate-fiscal 

New Netherland. i , ./v • tvt »t ■ i i t- • r . i ,.. • ,-, i 

Dinclagen. and sheriff in JNew Netherland, It is, after previous deliberation, resolved and 

concluded that this petition shall be sent to the Chamber of the West India Company, at 
Amsterdam, in order that they may reply to the petitioner's foregoing request, within fourteen 
days after the receipt of the letter. 



States General to the Amsterdam Chamber of the West India Company. 

[From the Minute in the Royal Archives at the Hagne ; File, West Indie. ] 

i 

The States. 

Dinckiagen. You can see from the accompanying petition, which we have resolved to send 

you herewith, what Lubertus van Dincklagen, late advocate-fiscal and sheriff, hath further 
represented to and requested of us; desiring that you reply within fourteen days after the 
receipt hereof, to the petitioner's foregoing petition. Wherein fail not. 

Done, 6 ,h October, 1636. 



1 Q2 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Resolution of the States General on the Answer of the Amsterdam Chamber. 

I From the Register of Resolutions of the States General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Monday, 20 ,h October, 1636. 
Foiio8i9. Received a letter from the Directors of the Amsterdam Chamber of the West 

west India • j Q( jj a c om p anV) j n answer to their High Mightinesses' letter, written in the case 
of Lubbertus Van Dinclagen, late fiscal and sheriff" in New Netherland. Whereupon 
deliberation being had, it is resolved and concluded that the aforesaid letter shall be handed to 
party, in order to say what he thinks proper thereupon. 



Subject for the Consideration of the Assembly of the XIX. 1636. 

[ From the Original in the Royal Archives at the Hague. File, West Indie. ] 

Points of Reference whereupon all the Chambers of the West India Company 
are summoned to Amsterdam for the S th December, 1636, extracted so far 
as relates to the affairs of New Netherland. Received 25 Nov. 1636. 

10 th Point. 

They shall also come prepared to resume and amend if necessary, the order on the 
management of New Netherland, Curacao, Cape de Verd, Senegal, Sierre Leone, the Wild 
Coast, Fernando, Noronho, and the Colonies planted here and there. And for this purpose 
each, in his place, shall bring all books and papers for information thereon. 



Mr. Van Beveren to the States General. 

[ From the Original in the Royal Archives at the Hague ; File, West Indie. ] 

High and Mighty Lords. 

My last to your High Mightinesses is of the 27 th March. The letters &c. 

I fear the delay in terminating the Treaty with France has caused the granting of a certain 
patent to Captain Kercke and his associates: to wit, that his Majesty has given to the aforesaid 
Captain and Company a patent or charter for the term of twenty-one years, to equip eight fully 
armed ships, to erect some small forts in New England or Newfoundland, and to become master 
of the fishery of Newfoundland, New France and Virginia, and not to suffer any nation to 
come and fish there, except under his license and tribute, where notwithstanding the French 
from all remote time have fished and carried on a good trade. Your High Mightinesses can 
enquire if any of your subjects are in the habit of going thither with the same design. I have, 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS : II. 103 

in accordance with my duty advised the French Ambassador hereof, and also assured him that 
the aforesaid charter was passed. 

A certain Italian nobleman, etc. 

(Signed) C. Van Beveren. 
London, 3 d April, 1637. 



Resolution of the States General on a further' Petition of Mr. Van Dincklagen. 

[ From the Ecgister of Resolutions of the States General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Thursday, the 30 ,h April 1637. 
roiio 272. T ne f ur ther petition of Lubbert Van Dincklagen, late fiscal of New Netherland 

Dincklegen. .... . 

Recommendation.^ being again read to the Assembly, It is, after previous deliberation resolved and 
concluded that the Assembly of the XIX. of the West India Company be seriously written to, 
to satisfy the Petitioner. And their High Mightinesses' deputies, going to the aforesaid 
Assembly, are requested to second their High Mightinesses' good disposition and intention 
herein with hearty zeal and earnestness. 



States General to the AssemUy of the XIX. 

[ From the Minute in the Royal Archives at the Hague ; File, West Indie.] 

To the Assembly of the XIX. of the West India Company ; the 30 th April, 1637. 

The States. 

Lubbert van Dim*- "We w r°t e you at three different times last year, 1636, to pay to Lubbert Van 
lagen. Dincklagen his three years salary, as Fiscal of New Netherland, with the costs 

thereon, or in case of refusal to show cause to the contrary. We have since received your 
letter, written there the 10 ,h October, in the aforesaid year, 1636, which, after previous reading 
and examination, we placed in the hands of the above named Dincklagen, to mak.e his 
observations thereupon, and he, Dincklagen, hath represented to us this day, by petition, that 
he, having examined your letter, finds that it states : 

First, that he, the petitioner, returned from New Netherland uncalled for and without orders. 

Secondly, that on demanding his earned monthly wages, the Commissioners of New 
Netherland, who had previously thoroughly informed themselves of, and examined all the 
documents, allowed him all such sums of money as were afterwards tendered to him, without 
making any computation of the amount. 

Thirdly, that he, the petitioner, complaining to you, several persons were appointed from 
your body with the ordinary Commissioners, to review the whole matter, which was done in 
the presence of Mr. Gerrard Van Arnhem, Lord of Zeventer, and that the said Mr. Arnhem, 



104 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

had informed the ordinary Commissioners, that in his opinion, he, the petitioner, had been 
more than satisfied by the allowance of the aforesaid small sum of money. 

To which three points, he, the petitioner, makes answer, by the aforesaid petition. 

First, that he did not return home without orders, or unrecalled ; but that he considers 
the forcible opposition in his office in New Netherland, his illegal removal from his said office, 
and other unbecoming proceedings of Wouter Van Tweyler, Director in New Netherland> 
together with his command and order to betake himself to Fatherland, as the aforesaid 
Dincklagen can prove, to be a recall and order to return home, as indeed it is. 

Secondly, that the sum tendered to him is no more than nine months of what is due him. 

Thirdly, that neither examination, nor revision, much less reconsideration of the matter has 
been made by the Commissioners, but on the contrary, that the petitioner's vouchers and 
papers were rejected, and not considered worthy either of perusal or examination by them. 

Wherefore, we having further examined the petitioner's case, find the same to be just, and 
therefore cannot and ought not omit hereby officially and earnestly to request, desire, and to 
exhort you once more for the third time, to cause, and let satisfaction be made him, after such 
long unfounded delays and postponements; and shall confidently rely on you no longer 
remaining in default herein, so that we may hereafter be freed and relieved from the petitioner's 
troublesome, but well founded, solicitations. And with this view, we have requested Messrs., 
our deputies, who are to go and preside over your present Assembly, in our behalf, earnestly 
to recommend and urge this matter on you, so that the Petitioner be deprived of cause 
of complaint. Done XXX th April, 1637. 



Resolution of the States General to commission Willem Kieft, Director of New 

Netherland. 

[From the Register of Resolutions of the States General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague, ] 

a 

Wednesday, 2 d September, 1637. 

Foiio4S3. Director Elias de Raet appeared in the Assembly, with credentials from the 

Directors of the West India [Company] Chamber at Amsterdam, of the first instant, and 
Wiiiiam Kien. prayed their High Mightinesses that Commission do issue, and the oath be 

Commission. 

New Netherland. entered of Willem Kieft, to go in the stead of Wouter Van Twyler, as Director 
of New Netherland. Which being granted by their High Mightinesses, the aforesaid 
Commission is ordered to be issued, and the aforesaid Willem Kieft was thereupon sworn. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: II. 105 

/Subject f o?' Consideration by the Assembly of the XIX. 1638. 

[ From the Original in the Royal Archives at the Hague ; File, Went India. ] 

Foints of Reference on which all the Chambers of the West India Company are 
summoned to Middelburg for the 25 ,h January, 1638; extracted so far as 
relates to the affairs of New Netherland. Received 19 January, 163S. 

17 ,h Point. 

They shall come also prepared to consider, and, if necessary, to improve the management of 
New Netherland, Curasao, Cape de Verd, Senegal, Sierre Leone, the Wild Coast, Fernando, 
Noronha, and the Colonies planted here and there ; and with this view, each in his place will 
bring all books and papers for information thereon. 



Resolution of the States General directing a Register of West India Affairs to be kept. 

[ From the Register of the West India Affairs, 1638—1651, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Friday, 16 April, 1638. 

Foiio i. After deliberation, it is resolved and concluded, that henceforth all resolutions, 

letters or other writings, relating to the East India Company and also to the West India 
Company, shall be entered and arranged in a book apart from the others. 



Resolution of the States General on a Project for Colonizing New Netherland. 

[ From the Register of the West India Affairs, 1633—1651, in the Royal Archives at the nague.] 

Saturday, 17 th April, 1638. 
Foiio 1. Read in the Assembly a certain remonstrance, presented to their High 

Partners and stock- 
holders. Mightinesses in the name and on the behalf of divers partners and stockholders of 

Nelh n ertlnd. n New the West India Company ; also was exhibited, in addition, a certain Project 

regarding the planting of Colonies in New Netherland. Whereupon deliberation being had, 

it is resolved and concluded, that the aforesaid Remonstrance and Project be placed in 

the hands of their High Mightinesses' Deputies to the present Assembly of the XIX., here at the 

Hague, to be by them communicated to that Assembly, and further to manage and direct 

the affair there, so that proper resolution may be taken thereupon, one way or the other, before the 

Assembly of the XIX. adjourn. 

Vol. I. 14 



106 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Resolution of the States General urging the Colonization of New Netherlands 

[ Prom the Register of the West India Affairs, 163S— 1651, in the Royal Archives at the Hague ] 

Monday, 26 April, 1638. 
Folio 1. Whereas their High Mightinesses learn that a sufficient number of good and 

Brain! s ' p m pious clergymen have not been sent to labor at Brazil in the harvest of the Lord ; 
ducipiine. rder and also that church discipline has not been duly introduced, much less practiced 
^luh!"™ ° f the there, nor even order taken for the establishment of schools for the education of 
the rising youth, that they may be brought up in religion and piety. 
colonies in New Secondly, their High Mightinesses receive additional information that the 

Netherland. •' ° ° 

Population. population in New Netherland does not only not increase as it ought, but even 

that the population which had been commenced is decreasing, and appears to be neglected by 
the West India Company, so that the inhabitants of foreign princes and potentates, are 
endeavoring to incorporate New Netherland, and if not seasonably attended to, will at once 
entirely overrun it. 

Therefore their High Mightinesses, after previous deliberation, have resolved and concluded 
on the first point, hereby to instruct and authorize their deputies to the Assembly of the XIX., 
that in conjunction with the present delegates from the respective Chambers to said Assembly, 
they assist in making and enacting such order, that Divine Worship in Brazil be duly attended 
to, church ordinance and discipline introduced and practiced, and the rising youth educated 
and brought up in the fear of the Lord and in the Christian Reformed religion. 

On the second point, their High Mightinesses have resolved and concluded, that before 
the present delegates from the respective Chambers to the aforesaid present Assembly of the 
XIX. adjourn, their High Mightinesses' deputies shall assist in making and enacting such 
effectual order regarding the population of New Netherland, and thereunto invite all good 
inhabitants of these Netherlands by such inducements and pre-eminences as, with the 
approbation of their High Mightinesses, they shall resolve to offer to all colonists, so that this 
State may not be deprived of the aforesaid New Netherland, by any indirect underhand dealing 
of some inhabitants of this country, and the intrusion and invasion of those of foreign princes 
and potentates. 



Report on the Condition of the Colony of New Netherland, in 1638. 

[ From the Original in the Royal Archives at the Hague : Loketkas of the States General ; Division, West Indi&che Compagnie, No. 6. ] 

feV^AM^mbiy Whereas the Lords States General obtain unreliable information on the 
hadbeenVevfousi? affairs of New Netherland; that it is retrograding more and more, to the injury 
aforesaiVto'tbe ve- of this state and its inhabitants, it is demanded: 

puties Noortwyk, 
Duyst van Voor- 

andVarTenberg!" 1- How far do the limits of New Netherland extend along the sea coast? 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS : II. 107 

Their High Mightinesses granted, Anno 1614, to Jonas Witzen and Tweenhuyzen, by special 
charter, and on the expiration thereof to the West India Company from Virginia to wit, from 
Ci^apoa, 1 along the sea coast to Newfoundland. 

2. Are these limits still in the possession, at the present time, of the West India 
Company, and the inhabitants of this country? 

We occupy Mauritius or the North River; where there are two forts, Orange and Amsterdam; 
and there is, moreover, one House 2 built by the Company, and that is the most of the population. 

3. If not, what nations have seized them; and by what right and under what pretext? 
The right, is that of the strongest. 

The English extend from the northeast of New England unto the Fresh River. 

4. Can the Company retain the remaining territory; and by what means? 

If there be people, the remainder can be maintained; from the North river, men can go into 
the interior as far as they please. 

5. What Christian nations are neighbors, above and below? 

The English enclose us from Virginia unto New England; and as much farther as our's 
have been. 

6. Has the Company realized profit or loss, since the planting of New Netherland? 
Loss. But it could afford profit, principally from grain. 

7. And in case of loss, and their High Mightinesses consider it advantageous to 
preserve the limits of New Netherland, and to establish the population on a better 
and surer footing — 

The Company canuot people it; because the Company cannot agree among themselves; but 
a plan of throwing it open, must be considered. 

8. Whether it would not, therefore, be expedient to place the district of New 
Netherland at the disposal of the States General? 

They have no intention so to do; unless they derived profit by it. 

But they hope, now that they have taken some order about Brazil, that it will prove a source 
of profit in time. 

They propose to surrender the trade with the Indians, or something else. Nothing comes 
from New Netherland but beaver skins, mincks, and other furs; considerable grain could be 
raised there in course of time. 

Note. The questions in the above paper were propounded by the States General, and the answers are by Mr. Rutger 
Huygens who, with seven other gentlemen, was appointed by the States General, on the 23d of February, 1638, to preside at 
the Assembly of the XLX. of the West India Company, at the Hague. 

1 Chesapeake. a Meaning, probably, the House of Good Hope, on the Connecticut River; now, Hartford. — Ed. 



108 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Mr. Joachimi to the States General. 

[ From the Original in the Royal Archives at the Hague ; File, Engeland. ] 

High and Mighty Lords! 

My Lords ! 

Your High Mightinesses will see, by the accompanying papers, the resolution of the Lords 
of the King's Council on my application to his Majesty respecting letters of reprisal granted to 
George Henley and his associates, also to Polhil, and regarding that of the intercourse. I have 
added thereunto copy of the answer of the Committee of the council of the ix March 1635. (that 
is, of the xix March 1G36, new style) quoted by their Lordships in this resolution of the xxv 
April 1638, English style. I objected to the aforesaid answer before I went in the year 1636 to 
Netherland. On the xviii" 1 instant, I was told that vessels lay in the river ready to proceed 
to sea with letters of reprisal. On which advice I, the next day, requested audience of the 
King, and this being granted me on Thursday the xx'\ I reminded his Majesty that last April 
I had spoken to him, and submitted divers reasons in opposition to the abovementioned 
reprisals, and that I had received a favorable answer. I further stated that the matter w"as 
afterwards brought before the Lords of the Council, and that it has come to my knowledge 
that ships are ready to proceed to sea, to put the aforesaid letters into execution, without 
further answer having been communicated to me. Fori had not seen the aforesaid resolution, 
though I knew its contents. And whereas your High Mightinesses' affairs would be incommoded 
by the execution thereof; friends scandalized, and the enemy be furnished with cause to rejoice. 
I prayed his majesty to order the letters to be annulled, and to consider whether the execution 
thereof would not be prejudicial to the affairs of the Elector Count Palatine. His Majesty 
immediately said, that he should have their execution stopped ; and as I urged him thereto, he 
added, that he would not allow the letters to be put in force without my being informed of the 
fact. As soon as I had taken my departure, the King spoke to Secretary Coke who was in the 
closet, and on next day, it being Whitsuntide, proceeded to the country, where I have waited 
on him and understood that he hath given orders to have the ships detained. 1 respectfully 
pray your High Mightinesses not to delay any longer your deliberations on the aforesaid matter, 
and to be pleased to communicate to me your resolutions thereupon. It is now reported here, 
that Polhil hath long since had two ships at sea to execute his letters of reprisal. It is to be 
observed on this point, as well as on the reasons on which the Lords of the Council seem to 
found their resolution : — 

That in the year 1633, William Clobery, David Morehead and John de la Barre complained, 
that they were injured by some Dutchmen resident in New Netherland, who had obstructed 
them in their trade in those parts, as they represented. The aforesaid persons have demeaned 
themselves to this time very discreetly, and would not have voluntarily brought their complaints 
into court. In the following year, 1634, I wrote, and sent the depositions on this subject, to 
your High Mightinesses, as your High Mightinesses will please to observe by the copy of my 
letter accompanying this. For a good while I have not heard of this matter, and thought that 
it was abandoned or had died. On the xiii ,h instant, two of the aforesaid persons came to me, 
and inquired what had they to expect in their case. From their language, I could infer that 
they had spoken with some Lords of Council. More than one suit will arise out of this, if the 
matter be not arranged. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: II. 109 

The Irish Officer, whose house has been hired by Captain Jan Reierssen, has not come near 
me any more, since I wrote to your High Mightinesses. If he be in Holland and receive no 
satisfaction there, it will be very requisite to send over well verified excuses, or he will be 
able to obtain letters of reprisal with very little trouble. 

In my last of the xii instant, I wrote that a certain Judge had distinctly advised that, under 
present circumstances, the ship money may not be levied off the inhabitants of England, 
without consent of Parliament. It is since rumored, that a Divine, who hath a good prebend 
and visits the house of one of the aristocracy, had intruded into a chamber at Westminster 
where the Judges sat ; among the rest into his whose advice is mentioned above. And the 
aforesaid Divine there told the said Judge openly, that he had committed high treason. I 
have not since heard whether he hath made public in what the Judge's guilt consisted. The 
aforesaid Divine was thereupon arrested. A lord of the Council told me on the xx th of this 
month, that the Scotch Lords, mentioned in a previous letter, have gone to Scotland with some 
Bishops, except the Marquess of Hamilton, 1 who has remained here on account of the sickness of 
his wife, who died on the above mentioned day. The duchess of Chevreuse is still at Court, 
whither she was brought at the King's expense. The Landgrave John of Darmstadt, as I 
have it from source certain, has had no business here ; he came hither, fearing that an effort 
would be made to use him against the Duke of Wymar, his father (vettcr), whom he respects. 
The Heer Roo 2 proceeded hence to Gravesend on Friday, on his way to Hamburgh, and Sir 
Richard Keeff to Holland, with money, cannon, and munition of war for the Elector Count 
Palatine. Said Roo told me that he is well assured of the good intention of the King, his 
master, and that he hopes to make quick business if the other ambassadors are as willing and as 
fully authorized as he. There is not so much opposition here to the double toll or custom 
which the King of Denmark exacts in the Sound from those who frequent the Baltic, as to the 
toll on the Elbe at Glukstad. Of the first it is said, the King hath incurred expense, and that 
it is levied only once ; and of the toll on the Elbe, that it is not reasonable that the aforesaid 
King, because he hath built a town or city, should shut up a free river, contrary to the 
constitutions of the Kingdom. From intercepted letters here, it is understood thatGallas hath 
instructions to occupy the forts he can take between the Weser and the Rhine, with a view 
to cut your High Mightinesses off from Germany. The Spanish ambassador took his leave of 
the King to day. The Envoy from Morocco left London on Thursday last. The Lord High 
Admiral of England is very sick; the virtuous wish he may recover. 

Herewith will this end and, after my humble salutations to your High Mightinesses, I 
pray God 

High and Mighty Lords, that He may bless your High Mightinesses' deliberations and 

government. 

Your Migh Mightinesses' 

Most obedient servant 
London, the xxii ,h May, 1638. (Signed) Alb. Joachimi 

Received, 14'" June, 1638. 1638. 

'James, 3d Marquess, aud 1st Duke, of Hamilton, and 5th Earl of Arran, K. G., was born in 1606 and succeeded to the 
title in 1625. He was created a Duke in 1043, and in 1648, had the command of an army that was raised and marched into 
England for the relief of Charles I., but was defeated at Preston, when his Grace was taken prisoner. He was beheaded on 
the 9th March, 1649, a few weeks after his Royal Master had suffered the same fate, and died with undaunted courage. — Ed. 

* Sir Thomas Roe. 



110 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Subject of Reference for the Assembly of the XIX. 1638. 

[ From the Original in the Royal Archives at the Hague ; File, West Jjulie. ] 

Points of Reference on which all the Chambers of the West India Company are 
summoned to Middelburg for the 5 th July 1638 ; extracted so far as they 
relate to the affairs of New Netherland. Exhibited 12 ,h June, 1638. 
18 th Point. 

They shall come also prepared to consider, resume and if necessary improve the direction of 
New Netherland, Curasao, Cape de Verd, Senegal, Sierra Leone, the Wild Coast, Fernando, 
Noronho, and Colonies planted here and there. And for this purpose bring along all books 
and papers for information therein. 



Proposed Articles for the Colonization and Trade of New Netherland. 

[ From the Original in the Royal Archives, at the Hague ; File, West Indie. ] 

Exhibited 30 th August 1638. Articles and Conditions drawn up and 

Report 2 Septemb r 1638. published by the Chamber of Amsterdam, with 

the approbation of their High Mightinesses, 
Referred to Mess" Arnhem Noortuyn, the States General of the United Netherlands, 
Noortwyck, Vosbergen, Weede, Priussen, in conformity to the authority of the XIX ; on 
Donkel and Coenders, to view, examine and which the respective Lands and Places in and 
report hereon. Their High Mightinesses' around New Netherland shall, from now 
deputies shall be empowered to proceed henceforward, be traded to, frequented and 
forthwith. Done 30 ,h August 163S. settled, according to such form of government 

Signed, Corn 8 Musch 1638. and police as may at present, or shall hereafter, 

be established there by the Company or its 

agents. 

1. The Company hereby retains to itself, and to such officers to whom it shall commit the 
execution thereof, all high and low jurisdiction, together with the exercise of this and other 
appendages of public affairs ; in order that its Governors, officers and all others employed by it, 
may administer, regulate, manage and execute the same, under their High Mightinesses, 
according to the instructions to be given thereon from time to time, without it being permitted 
to any to oppose them directly or indirectly, on pain of correction according to circumstances, 
as violaters and disturbers of the public peace. 

2. And inasmuch as it is of the highest importance, that, in the first commencement and 
settlement of this population, proper arrangement be made for Divine worship, according to 
the practice established by the government of this country, Religion shall be taught and 
preached there according to the Confession and formularies of union here publicly accepted in 
the respective churches, with which everyone shall be satisfied and content, without, however, 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: II. HI 

it being inferred from this, that any person shall be hereby in any wise constrained or aggrieved 
in his conscience, but every man shall be free to live up to his own in peace and decorum ; 
provided he avoid frequenting any forbidden assemblies or conventicles, much less collect or get 
up any such ; and further abstain from all public scandals and offences, which the magistrate is 
charged to prevent by all fitting reproofs and admonitions, and if necessary, to advise the 
Company, from time to time, of what may occur there herein, so that confusions and 
misunderstandings may be timely obviated and prevented. 

3. The Company shall make arrangements through their agents, that all forts, strongholds, 
and public places which have been, or may be hereafter, built there, shall be properly 
maintained, preserved and improved to the best advantage of the commonalty, and that the 
general assessment to be paid for the erection and construction thereof, shall be levied and 
collected with the least inconvenience to the respective inhabitants, without it being in the 
power of the Director or his Council, to levy any tax before the Company be advised thereof, 
and its consent be obtained. Which assessment shall remain specially affected to such 
works and charges, for the maintenance whereof, they were at the commencement voted 
and granted. 

4. And in order that greater attention be paid to the cultivation and settlement of those 
countries, and that no one be excluded, by private possession and occupation, from the use of 
the public waters, creeks, bays and rivers, and from appropriating any islands, sandspits and 
dry marshes therein situate ; all these shall belong first to the Company, which promises to 
make such arrangements, through the Director and Council there, touching the use thereof 
that all the inhabitants of those parts shall derive therefrom the greatest possible profit and 
advantage, unless the Company may, by actual experience, deem it advisable to make other 
disposition therein, which resolution and disposition every one shall be bound to observe, 
without any trouble or opposition. And if, however, any one happen to contravene the same, 
he shall be corrected and brought to his duty by public authority. 

5. Equal justice shall be administered, in all civil and criminal matters, to all inhabitants 
and others who frequent that country, according to the form of procedure, and the laws and 
customs already made, or to be hereafter enacted. Expressly charging every officer to 
contribute actively and firmly hereunto in his station, as far as needs may be ; and that without 
any regard of person or persons, even though the matter be such as to concern the Company 
itself particularly; in which case the judges shall be specially bound to declare on oath, that 
they will not follow any other order or law, than such as all private persons are obliged to 
obey and respect. 

6. And whereas all the population cannot be settled on one place, but must be disposed 
according to the inclination of those going thither, and the circumstances of affairs there, each 
inhabitant shall be bound willingly to accept, and honestly and faithfully to discharge at his 
place of residence, according to his oath and troth and the instructions given concerning the 
same, all public burthens and duties, such as the office of magistrate and those of honor or 
authority; also, those in any way relating to works of piety, such as churches, without claiming 
any recompense or reward for so doing. But such charges and offices as are burdensome, and 
demand the occupation of the whole of a person's time, shall be remunerated at the discretion 



112 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

of the Director and his Council, on condition of giving the Company notification thereof, and 
obtaining its approbation therefor. 

7. No public servants, whether Director, councillors, military commanders, commissaries, 
skippers, nor any others in the receipt of ordinary wages from the Company, shall, unless 
permitted so to do, be at liberty to carry on any trade either for themselves, or as factors, or on 
commission for others, much less undertake any farms or bouweries ; but be content with 
their ordinary wages. And if they happen to transgress herein, they shall immediately be 
deprived of such offices and qualities as they may be invested with, and forfeit, moreover, their 
earned monthly wages and any purchased lands and goods which may be discovered contrary 
to this article in their possession, or the value thereof, should they have traded or conveyed 
those away; and the respective officers and justices are commanded to enforce the execution 
hereof, without any connivance. 

8. Each householder and inhabitant shall bear such tax and public charge as shall hereafter 
be considered proper for the maintenance of Clergymen, comforters of the sick, schoolmasters 
and such like necessary officers; and the Director and Council there shall be written to 
touching the form hereof, in order, on receiving further information hereupon, it be rendered 
the least onerous and vexatious. 

9. The inhabitants shall be at liberty to build there for themselves, or for such others as 
shall instruct or commission them thereunto, all descriptions of craft, either large or small, 
and with such vessels and no others, ascend and descend all rivers, and prosecute their 
their lawful trade and barter, as well as trade therewith along the entire coast, from Florida to 
Newfoundland. And in case they happen, in the course of such voyage, to take any of the 
enemy's ships, they shall bring such to the place of residence of the Director there, to be by him 
either distributed, or sent hither; one-third part for the benefit of the Company, and two-thirds 
for the captor, provided, if the prize come over here, the proper share for the Company shall 
be first deducted. 

10. And should any wares or merchandises from any neighboring place there, or from any 
other kingdom or country, be landed from any foreign ships on the coast of New Netherland 
and places circumjacent thereto, within the limits of our Charter and the Company's 
possessions, the said goods shall not be opened nor unloaded until they are duly entered, and 
the duties thereon paid; which, in consequence of the heavy expenses and charges the 
Company has to meet, and the great burdens lying on the inhabitants of this state, shall be 
reckoned at fifteen per cent on the estimated value of the said goods there; and thirty per cent 
on whatever shall be exported in said foreign vessels. 

11. The Company will take under its protection and safeguard, all those who resort to, or 
inhabit, said countries under the obedience of their High Mightinesses, the Lords States 
General; defend them against all assaults or attacks, coming either from within or without, 
with such force as it may at present have, or hereafter send, there: provided that every one, be 
he trader or inhabitant, who happens to be there, freely consent to be employed with others 
on such occasion for self defence, under command of the respective officers; and to this end, 
shall every male emigrant take with him, at his own cost, a musket and side arms, and be 
enrolled, in case of apparent danger, into coaipanies or squads. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: II. 113 

12. In case any person shall discover or find any minerals, whether gold, silver or base 
metals, precious stones, crystals, marble, or such like, they shall, if discovered on the finder's 
own land, remain his property, on returning, after five years, one-fifth part of the proceeds, 
without deducting any of the expenses; and that, before such minerals or beforementioned 
specie shall profit him, or be removed from the place where they may be found; but for such 
as may be discovered on another man's property, or in the Company's domain, or on 
unappropriated land, the finder shall be rewarded according to the discretion of the Director 
and Council, unless they agree among themselves in a friendly manner; which agreement 
thus made, shall be observed. 

13. In addition to these general Articles, another shall be introduced, to obey and respect 
such instructions, manifestoes and commands as have already been, or shall hereafter be 
issued, with the approbation of their High Mightinesses, relative to the settlement of the lands 
and trade of the country. 

West India Company. 

Whereas the Directors of the Incorporated West India Company, Chamber at Amsterdam, 
are authorized by resolution of the XIX., to promote and improve the trade and population of 
New Netherland; they, therefore, with the approbation of their High Mightinesses, hereby 
make known to all and every the inhabitants of this state, or its allies and friends, who may 
be disposed to take up and cultivate any lands there, and to make use, for that purpose, of the 
harbors of these countries, that they may, henceforth, convey thither in the Company's ships, 
such cattle, merchandise and property as they shall deem advisable; and receive the returns 
they or their agents may obtain therefor in those parts; on condition that all the goods 
shall first be brought to the Company's store, so as to be put on ship board all at once, in the 
best manner, on payment of the following duties and freights; and the Directors will take 
care that they shall be sent thither by the safest conveyance: — 

On all merchandises going thither, there shall be paid to the Company here, a duty of ten 
per cent in money, proportionably to their value; and on those coming thence hither, fifteen 
per cent there, in kind or money, at the choice of the Company or its agent; eighty-five 
remaining for the owner. And if any one happen to commit an error, in the valuation of his 
goods, the Company shall be at liberty to take such goods, paying one-sixth more than they 
are entered at; but all concealed and smuggled goods, either in this country or that, which 
may be discovered to have been brought on board the Company's ships, by secret plans or 
other cunning contrivances, shall be immediately forfeited and confiscated to the profit of the 
said Company, without any right of action accruing thereby. For the freight of cattle and 
goods, which will be sent hence there, or thence here, the owners or factors, at the respective 
places of loading, shall agree with the Company or their agents, according to the value and 
condition thereof, until a final arrangement and plan be established; and the freight must be 
paid in money, at the place of unloading; and no person shall be permitted to touch or remove 
them, before he makes it appear that both the duties and the freight are fully paid. And one 
per cent additional for every month that they remain after being discharged, in the Company's 
stores; for all which the aforesaid cattle and goods shall be summarily taken in execution, or 
the owners personally spoken to, according to the choice of the Directors or their agents. 

Vol f. 15 



114 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

And whereas it is the Company's intention to cause those countries to be peopled and 
brought into cultivation more and more, the Director and Council there shall be instructed to 
accommodate every one, according to his condition and means, with as much land as he can 
properly cultivate, either by himself or with his family. Which land, thus conceded to any 
person in the name of the Company, shall remain the property of him, his heirs or assigns, 
provided he shall pay to the Company, after it has been pastured or cultivated four years, the 
lawful tenths of all fruits, grain, seed, tobacco, cotton and such like, as well as of the increase 
of all sorts of cattle; of which property a proper deed shall be given, on condition that he 
truly undertake the cultivation or pasture thereof. Failing therein, he shall incur, in addition 
to the loss of such land, such penalties and fines as shall be mutually agreed on at the time 
of the grant. To which penalties and fines his successors and assigns shall be also bound. 
And in order to obviate all confusion and losses, which have formerly arisen therefrom and are 
hereafter to be expected in a still graver degree, no one shall henceforward be allowed to 
possess or hold any lands or houses in those parts, that have not previously come through 
the hands of the Company. 

The Company, subject to the High and Mighty Lords States General, shall take care that 
the places and countries there shall be maintained in peace and quietness, in proper police and 
justice, under its ministers or their deputies, conformably to the regulations and instructions 
thereupon already established and issued, or to be hereafter enacted and given, upon a knowledge 
and experience of affairs. 

All those who will be inclined to go thither, to inhabit the country or to trade, shall severally 
declare under their signatures, that they will voluntarily submit to these regulations, and to 
the orders of the Company, and shall allow all questions and differences there arising to be 
decided by the ordinary courts of justice, which shall be established in that country, and freely 
suffer there the execution of the sentences and verdicts, without any further opposition. And 
shall pay, for passage and board in the state room, one guilder, in the cabin (huttc), twelve 
stivers, and between decks eight stivers, per diem. 



Resolution of the States General, referring the preceding Articles to a Committee. 

[ From the Register of West India Affairs, 1G8S— 1651, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Monday, 30 ,b August, 1638. 

slew de°Laet. Sieur Johaii de Laet having presented and exhibited to the Assembly of their 
High Mightinesses the Articles and Conditions drawn up for their High Mightinesses' 
New Netheriand. approbation, whereupon the respective places and countries in and around New 
Netherland are, from now henceforth, to be traded to, frequented and settled. It is, after 
previous deliberation, resolved and concluded that the aforesaid Articles and Conditions be 
placed in the hands of Mess" Arnhem, Noortwyck, Vosbergen, Weede, Pruyssen, Donckel and 
Conders, to view and examine them and to report. The said Deputies of their High 
Mightinesses may proceed forthwith thereupon. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: II. 115 

Resolution of the States General, on the preceding Articles and Conditions. 

[ From the Register of West India affairs, 1CS8— 1051, in the Royal Archives at the Hague.] 

Thursday, 2 September, 1638. 
Folio 9. Heard the repoit of Mess" Arnhem, Noortwyck, Vosbergen, Weede, Donckel 

and Conders ( M r Pruyssen having gone away) who, pursuant to their High Mightinesses' 
conditions and Ar- resolution of the 30 th of August last, viewed and examined the Articles and 

tides, according to 

whics New Neffier- Conditions agreed to by the Amsterdam Chamber, with the approbation of their 

land is to be resort- ° J r r 

ed '°- High Mightinesses, according to which the respective countries and places in New 

Netherland and its circumjacents should henceforth be traded to, frequented and inhabited. 
Also is submitted and exhibited to the Assembly another New Project, 1 likewise proposed on 
the aforesaid subject. Which being taken into deliberation, their High Mightinesses have 
resolved and concluded to hereby declare that the aforesaid Articles, drawn up by the Amsterdam 
Chamber, are, in their present form, not adapted to the service and promotion of the Colonies 
of New Netherland; and their High Mightinesses, therefore, resolved that the said drafted 
Articles and Conditions be again returned to Sieur Johan de Laet, Director of the West India 
Company, to which is to be adjoined the aforesaid New Project, to be communicated to the 
Chamber of the West India Company at Amsterdam, and to tell it, on the part of their High 
Mightinesses, to send some deputies hither by Monday next, the vi lh instant, in order that the 
entire case of New Netherland may be further viewed and examined with their High 
Mightinesses' former deputies ; their joint considerations on the aforesaid subject then to be 
laid before their High Mightinesses' Assembly, to the end that such resolutions on the planting 
of Colonies and stocking Cattle in New Netherland, may be adopted as shall be found to be 
most for the service of this State and the advantage of the Company. 



Subject for the Consideration of the Assembly of the XIX, 1638. 

[ From the Origiual In the Royal Archives at the Hague. File Wat Indie. ] 

Points of Reference, whereon all the Chamber of the West India Company are 
summoned to Middleburg for the 27 th September, 163S ; extracted so far as 
relate to the affairs of New Netherland. Exhibited, 9 th September, 163S. 
17 ,h Point. 

They shall come prepared to attend to, resume, and if necessary amend, the management of 
New Netherland, Curacao, Cape de Verd, Senegal, Sierra Leone, the Wild Coast, Fernando 
Noronho, and Colouies planted here and there, and for that purpose, bring with them all books 
and papers for information. 

' See supra, p 96. — Ed. 



] 1( 3 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Resolution of the States General, to pay Kiliaen Van Rensselaer his Account. 

[ From tho Register of Resolutions of the States Goneral, remaining in the Royal Archives at the Ilague. ] 

Friday, 28 th January, 1639. 
roi.28. Presented and read to the Assembly the account of Kiliaen Van Renselaer and 

aSiSk. George Everard Klenck, ordered by their High Mightinesses in February, 1G37, 

to come hither, amounting to forty-three guilders and four stivers. After previous deliberation, 
it is resolved and concluded that an order for the aforesaid sum shall be issued on the 
above account. 



Directors of the Enckhuyzen Chamber of the West India Company to the States General. 

[ From the Original in the Royal Archives at the Hague ; File, West Indie. ] 

High and Mighty Lords. 

Your High Mightinesses' letter, dated 31 st December, 1638, with the annexed memorial of 
the Hon ble M r Spieringh, ResiJent of the Crown of Sweden, was handed to us on the 13 th 
instant, but the previous one, dated 25 th October, has not been received. As soon as we had 
seen the tenor of your High Mightinesses' said letter, we were prepared to obey your High 
Mightinesses' order and command, and with that view, sent an express immediately to 
Medenblick, which brings us the following information : 

That on the arrival of the ship there, our brother Director, wishing to attend to, and take 
care of, the import duty, granted and conveyed by your High Mightinesses to the Company, 
sent for the skipper of that ship; in whose absence the pilot appeared, and being asked, Where 
he came from and what his freight was? answered, From the West Indies, and the cargo, 
tobacco. Being further asked, respecting the quantity thereof, said thereunto, that he was not 
obliged to give that information, as he did not know who made the inquiry. The quality of 
our confrere being made known to him, he persisted in his previous answer, adding, I am no 
skipper, and the ship is going home to Sweden, and had her Majesty's letters; which being 
demanded, were refused to be shown. Whereupon, the pilot having departed, he returned 
shortly after, saying, Our skipper has just arrived. Which skipper being sent for, he answered, 
Whoever wants to speak with, or has any thing to say to me, may come to me; so that the 
Director had the said skipper summoned by the city marshal to produce his commission ; this, 
however, he would not do, but again answered as above. Such being the case, the ship was 
placed under arrest. Notice having been given us thereof, we immediately sent one of our 
Chamber thither, who, with the Director at Medenblik, spoken to the skipper. He then 
exhibited his commission from the Crown of Sweden. This done, the arrest was at once 
removed and he was allowed to depart with the ship, as soon as he pleased ; whereupon, he 
took his departure without any discontent or verbal protest. This, High and Mighty Lords, is 
the true state and circumstances of the case regarding the above mentioned ship; whereby your 
High Mightinesses can perceive how honestly every thing was transacted, doubting not but, 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: II. 117 

after this information, all cause of dissatisfaction will be removed from the Hon ble Resident's 
mind ; which you, High and Mighty Lords, will please to promote to the best of your power. 
Herewith, High and Mighty Lords, we pray God, according to our humble supplication, to 
be pleased to grant your High Mightinesses, a prosperous government, for the welfare of our 
dear Fatherland. 

Your High Mightinesses' Humble Servants, 
The Directors of the West India Company, Chamber at Enchuyzen. 
(Signed,) t Codde Van der Burgh. 
Enchuyzen, 17 ,b January, Anno 1639. Jacob Volckaerts z Sailmaker. 

Received, 31. January, 1639. 



Resolution of the States General on another Petition of Luhhert Van Dinclagen. 

[ From the Register of West India affairs, 1688—1651, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Wednesday, the 18 th May, 1639. 
F0I1027. The further remonstrance presented to their High Mightinesses by and on the 

dagc"' 1 n Dm " behalf of Lubbert Van Dinclagen, late fiscal in New Netherland, in order to 
obtain satisfaction from the West India Company, respecting his claims, being read ; It is, after 
previous deliberation, resolved and concluded, that this remonstrance be placed in the hands 
of their High Mightinesses' Deputies, who are to preside at the approaching Assembly of the 
XIX. of the above named Company, at Middelburg, in Zealand, to the end that the petitioner, 
by their means and intercession, may be aided in obtaining reasonable satisfaction from the 
above named Company, in regard of his aforesaid claims. 



Resolution of the States General, instructing their Deputies. 

[ From the Register of West India affairs, 1633 — 1651 , in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Tuesday, 13 th March, 1640. 

Folio 89. The report being read of Mess" Arnhem, Noortwyck, Croock, Amerongen, Walta 

and Aldringa, (Mr. Ripperda absent) who viewed and examined, pursuant to their High 
Reference of the Mightinesses' resolution of the 31 st January last, the points of reference of the 

Assembly of the ii^-,ii i i TT . 

xix. West India Company, sent over by the Chamber at Amsterdam to their High 

Mightinesses, to the end that the XIX. of the said Company should meet thereupon within 
said city. It is, after previous deliberation, resolved and concluded that their High 
Mightinesses' Deputies to the Assembly of the XIX., shall assist in deliberating, advising and 
concluding on the aforesaid points, as they shall find for the advantage of the country in 
general, and the West India Company in particular. But said Deputies are most especially 
enjoined to attend to the fifth point of the aforesaid reference, and to take care that no abuses 
be practiced under cover or occasion thereof, nor that any incovenience proceed from it; also, 
that the affairs of New Netherland be not only preserved, but likewise promoted, and that New 
Netherland may, by the most favorable conditions, be rendered agreeable to the inhabitants of 



118 NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

these countries. But as regards the trade of Guinea, no alteration shall be made therein, 
without their High Mightinesses' previous special consent. Further, their High Mightinesses 
have decided, in pursuance of their resolution of the 20 ,b September 1639, and the renewal 
thereof, which followed on the 7 lh November last, that the provinces of Guilderland, Zealand, 
Utrecht, Vriesland, and Overyssel, shall be again requested to consent to the augmentation of 
the capital which the States General invested in the aforesaid Company, and to introduce 
their resolution to that effect within the space of two months, or that their High Mightinesses 
shall then, after the aforesaid iterated request and prayer, be necessitated to allow the aforesaid 
capital to be increased by others, in order that the Company may be assisted by one or the 
other ; and the Deputies of the said Provinces have again undertaken to second, by their 
respective individual letters, their High Mightinesses' meaning and intention. 



' ■ » ».-■»- 



Resolution of the States General relative to an offer to send People to New Neiherland. 

[ From the Register of West India affairs, 1638— 1G51, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Thursday, 31 May 1640. 
roiio 42. Mr. Van Reinswoude hath by express orders from the States of Utrecht dated 

Reruve 0l r« 8 sending 12 ' h April last, represented to their High Mightinesses that the Count of Solms 
ed' n va"L!i a s to 8 NeT is well disposed to send to New Netherland some of his vassals, who have been 
acoionj'ihere. paD driven out of the county of Solms by the war, for the purpose of planting 
colonies there, relating besides the offers his Lordship had made to the West India Company and 
the result; that the aforesaid company had refused him what it had already granted to divers 
private individuals, as well traders as others. Whereupon, after deliberation, it is resolved 
and concluded that their High Mightinesses' Deputies, who are to attend the present Assembly 
of the XIX, shall there propose and urge free access to New Netherland for the said Count of 
Solms and other inhabitants of these countries, and for that purpose, that they bring over 
the Conditions which they were heretofore ordered to enact, that they be approved and ratified 
by their High Mightinesses, or in default thereof, their High Mightinesses will themselves ■ 
give appropriate orders thereupon. 



Resolution of the States General on a New Draft of Freedoms and Exemptions. 

[ From the Register of West India affairs, 1633 — 1651, in the Royal Archives at the Ilague. ] 

Thursday, the 19 July, 1640. 
Folio 44. Elias de Raedt, Director of the Amsterdam Chamber, appeared in their High 

Freedoms IndEx- Mightinesses Assembly furnished with a letter of credence dated 17 th instant, 
Soon'sreiaUve'to and hath, in virtue thereof, delivered to their High Mightinesses a draft of 

planting colonics in _ , _ . 

New Netherland. t reedoms and Lxemptions for all 1 atroons, masters or private persons who will 
introduce any colonies or cattle into New Netherland. Whereupon deliberation being had, 
the provinces requested copy thereof, which is granted. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: II. 119 

Proposed Freedoms and Exemptions for New Netherland. 1640. 

[ From the Original, in the Royal Archives at the Hague; File, Went TndU.] 

Freedoms and Exemptions granted and accorded by the Directors of the General 
Incorporated West India Company at the Assembly of the XIX., with the 
approbation of the High and Mighty Lords States General of the free United 
Netherlands, to all Patroons, Masters, or Private persons who will plant any 
Colonies or introduce cattle in New Netherland. Exhibited 19 th July, 1640. 

All good inhabitants of the Netherlands and all others inclined to plant any Colonies in New 
Netherland shall be at liberty to send three or four persons in the Company's ships going thither, 
to examine the circumstances there, on condition that they swear to the articles, as well as the 
officers and seamen, as far as they relate to them, and pay for board and passage out and home, 
to wit, those who eat in the master's cabin, fifteen stivers per day, and those who go and eat 
in the orlop, shall have their board and passage gratis, and in case of an attack, offensive or 
defensive, they shall be obliged to lend a hand with the others, on condition of receiving, 
should any of the enemy's ships be overcome, their share of the booty pro rata, each according 
to his quality, to wit — the Colonists eating out of the Cabin shall be rated with the seamen, 
and those eating in the cabin with the Company's servants who board there and have the 
lowest rate of pay. 

In the selection of lands, those who shall have first notified and presented themselves 
to the Company, whether Patroons or private Colonists, shall be preferred to others who 
may follow. 

In case any one be deceived in selecting ground, or should the place by him chosen 
afterwards not please him, he will, upon previous representation to the Governor and Council 
then be at liberty to select another situation. 

For Patroons and Feudatories of New Netherland, shall be acknowledged all such as shall 
ship hence, and plant there a Colonie of fifty souls, above fifteen years of age, within the space 
of three years after having made a declaration and given notice thereof, to some Chamber of 
the Company here or to the Governor or Council there; namely, one-third part within the 
year, and so forth, from year to year, until the number be completed; on pain of losing, through 
notorious neglect, the obtained Freedoms and cattle. But they shall be warned that the 
Company reserves the Island Manhattes to itself. 

All Patroons and Feudatories shall, on requesting it.be granted Venia Testandi, or the power 
to dispose of, or bequeath, his fief by Will. 

For Masters or Colonists, shall be acknowledged, those who will remove to New Netherland 
with five souls above fifteen years; to all such, our Governor there shall grant in property one 
hundred morgens, Rhineland measure, of land, contiguous one to the other, wherever they 
please to select. 

And the Patroons, of themselves or by their agents, at the places where they will plant their 
Colonies, shall have the privilege to extend the latter one mile (consisting of, or estimated at, 



120 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

1600 Rhineland perches) along the coast, bay, or a navigable river, and two contiguous miles 
landward in; it being well understood, that no two Patroonships shall be selected on both 
sides of a river or bay, right opposite to each other; and that the Company retains to itself the 
property of the lands lying between the limits of the Colonies, to dispose thereof hereafter 
according to its pleasure; and that the Patroons and Colonists shall be obliged to give each 
other an outlet and issue, (uylteweeghen ende injttewaieren) at the nearest place and at the 
smallest expense; and in case of disagreement, it shall be settled in the presence and by 
the decision of the Governor for the time being. 

The Patroons shall forever possess all the lands situate within their limits, together with 
the produce, superficies, minerals, rivers and fountains thereof, with high, low and middle 
jurisdiction, hunting, fishing, fowling and milling, the lands remaining allodial, but the jurisdiction 
as of a perpetual hereditary fief, devolvable by death as well to females as to males, and 
fealty and homage for which is to be rendered to the Company, on each of such occasions, 
with a pair of iron gauntlets, redeemable by twenty guilders within a year and six weeks, at 
the Assembly of the XIX., here, or before the Governor there; with this understanding, that 
in case of division of said fief or jurisdiction, be it high, middle or low, the parts shall be and 
remain of the same nature as was originally conferred on the whole, and fealty and homage 
must be rendered for each part thereof by a pair of iron gauntlets, redeemable by twenty 
guilders, as aforesaid. 

And should any Patroon, in course of time, happen to prosper in his Colonie to such a 
degree as to be able to found one or more towns, he shall have authority to appoint officers 
and magistrates there, and make use of the title of his Colonie, according to the pleasure and 
the quality of the persons, all saving the Company's regalia. 

And should it happen that the dwelling places of private Colonists become so numerous as 
to be accounted towns, villages or cities, the Company shall give orders respecting the 
subaltern government, magistrates and ministers of justice, who shall be nominated by the said 
towns and villages in a triple number of the best qualified, from which a choice and selection 
is to be made by the Governor and Council; and those shall determine all questions and suits 
within their district. 

The Patroons who will send Colonies thither, shall furnish them with due instruction 
agreeably to the mode of government both in police and justice established, or to be established, 
by the Assembly of the XIX., which they shall first exhibit to the Directors of the respective 
Chambers, and have approved by the Assembly of the XIX. 

The Patroons and Colonists shall have the privilege of sending their people and property 
there in the Company's ships, on condition of swearing allegiance, and paying to the Company 
for the conveyance of the people, as in the first article, and for freight of the goods 
requisite for their bouvvery, five per cent on the cost of the goods here, without, however, 
including herein the cattle, on the freight of which the Company shall be liberal. 

But in case it should come to pass that the Co'mpany have no ships to dispatch, or that there 
be no room in the sailing vessels, in such a case the Patroons and Colonists can, upon 
previously communicating their determination to, and obtaining the consent of the Company 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: II. 121 

iu writing, send their own ships thither, provided, in going and returning, they shall not 
leave the ordinary track laid down, and take a supercargo, whose board shall be at the 
expense of the Patroons or Colonists, and whose wages shall be paid by the Company ; on 
pain, in case of contravention, of forfeiting their ship and goods to, and for the behalf of, the 
Company, it remaining optional with the Fatroons, during the term of the current grant, 
and no longer to convey over their cattle, wares and people in the Company's ships, in their 
own or in chartered vessels. 

And, whereas, it is the Company's intention first to settle the Island of the Manhattes, it 
shall provisionally be the staple of all produce and wares accruing on the North river and the 
country thereabout, before they can be sent further, except those which by nature itself are 
useless there, or cannot be brought there except with great loss to the owners, in which case 
the latter shall be bound to give timely notice of such inconvenience to the Company here, 
or to the Governor and Council there, that it be provided for, according as the circumstances 
shall be found to require. 

All Patroons, Colonists and inhabitants there, as well as the stockholders in the Company 
here, shall be privileged to sail and trade to the entire coast, from Florida to Newfoundland, on 
the following conditions: 

First, that all goods which will be sent hence for sale there, whether freighted by the Company, 
or by Colonists, or the stockholders themselves, must be brought into the Company's stores for 
for inspection and payment of the proper duties, to wit: ten per cent on the cash cost of the 
article here, besides convoy-freight and average, an agreement being made for the freights of 
what may be sent in the Company's ships; and bulk will not be allowed to be broken any 
where except at the Manhattes, or such place as the Company here may order, so as to be at 
liberty, after proper inspection of their loading and the entry thereof, to depart to whatever 
place they think proper. 

And on the other wares which will be sent thence hither, shall be paid here, over and 
above the convoy duty granted by the State to the Company, five per cent, according to 
the valuation to be made here, on such penalty as aforesaid ; but an agreement must be made 
with the Governor and Council there, for the freight of any of the goods that are being sent 
from there in the Company's ships, as aforesaid ; and on all beavers, otters and other peltries, 
which will be sent from there here, shall be paid to the Governor and Council there, ten per 
cent, all in kind, and due receipt for the payment thereof, shall be brought along, on pain of 
confiscation of all the furs which will be found not to have paid any thing for the behoof of the 
Company, and with that to be exempt from further duty. 

And in case said private ships, in going or coming, or in ranging along the coast from 
Florida to Newfoundland, happen to capture any prizes, they shall, in like manner be obliged 
to bring the same, or to cause the same to be brought, to the Governor and Council in New 
Netherland, or to the Chamber whence they respectively sailed, to be rewarded by them, and 
the third part thereof shall be retained for the Company, before deducting his Highness' and the 
State's portion, the two other third parts for themselves, in return for their incurred expenses 
and risk, all in pursuance of the Company's order. 

Vol. T. lG 



122 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

In like manner they shall not be at liberty to depart thence with their goods obtained in 
barter, without first returning to the said place, to enter their goods there and to obtain proper 
clearance, signed by the Governor and Council, and they shall be bound to return to this country, 
with their ships and yachts, to the place they sailed from, in order to discharge all their freight 
into the Company's stores, according to the register and clearance to be brought from thence, 
on pain of forfeiting their ship and goods for the Company's behoof, should they go and break, 
bulk elsewhere, or have any unregistered goods on board. 

The Company promises, during the continuance of the present charter and no longer, not to 
burden the Patroons and Colonists in that country, either with customs, toll, excise, imposts 
or any other contributions, and after the expiration hereof, at farthest, with no greater duty 
than is imposed on goods in this country. 

The Company shall not take from the service of the Patroons or Colonists, their man 
servants or maid servants, even though some person should solicit it ; nor receive them, much 
less suffer them to go from their master's service to that of another, during the term of such 
years as they are bound for ; and if any man servant or maid servant run away, or take his 
freedom contrary to contract, the Company shall, according to its means, cause such to be 
delivered into the hands of their masters, to be proceeded against according to the circumstances 
of the case. 

From all definitive judgments pronounced by the Courts of the Patroons or Colonists, for 
an amount exceeding one hundred guilders, or from such as entail infamy, also from all 
sentences pronounced in matters criminal, on ordinary prosecution, conformable to the custom 
of this country, an appeal shall lie to the Governor and Council of the Company in 
New Netherland. 

All Patroons, Colonists and inhabitants are allowed free hunting and fishing, both by land 
and by water, generally in public woods and rivers in the extent of their lands, according to the 
order to be made thereupon by the Governor and Council ; and the Patroons exclusively within 
the limits of their Colonies, with the clear understanding that the Governor and Council shall 
not be excluded therefrom. 

All Patroons, inhabitants or Colonists, are also allowed to send ships along the coast of New 
Netherland and the countries circumjacent thereunto, to fish for Cod, &c, and to proceed with 
the catch straight to Italy or other neutral countries, on condition of paying to the Company 
for duty, in such case, six guilders per last, and on coming here with their freight, it shall be 
allowable and sufficient to pay the Company the custom dues alone, without conveying, under 
pretence of this consent, any other goods elsewhere, on pain of arbitrary punishment, it 
remaining at the pleasure of the Company to put a supercargo on board each ship, on such 
conditions and terms as hereinbefore set forth. 

If any Patroons, inhabitants or Colonists happen by their industry, diligence or otherwise to 
discover any minerals, precious stones, crystals, marbles, pearlfisheries or such like within the 
limits of their lands, all such Patroons and Colonists shall give one-fifth part of the nett proceeds 
to the Company, which for this purpose shall have the power to appoint one or more inspectors, 
at the charge of said mines and pearlfisheries; but any one finding such without their limits, 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: II. 123 

the same shall belong to the Company on paying the discoverer such premium as the merits 
of the case shall demand. 

The Company shall take all Colonists, whether free or bound to service, under their 
protection, defend them as far as lies in their power with the force which it has there, against 
all domestic and foreign wars and violence, on condition that the Patroons and Colonists shall, 
in such case, put themselves in a suitable state of defence for which purpose each male 
emigrant shall be obliged to provide himself, at his own expense, with a gun or musket of the 
Company's regular calibre, or a cutlass and side arms. 

And no other Religion shall be publicly admitted in New Netherland except the Reformed, 
as it is at present preached and practiced by public authority in the United Netherlands ; and 
for this purpose the Company shall provide and maintain good and suitable preachers, 
schoolmasters and comforters of the sick. 

The particular Colonies which happen to lie on the respective rivers, bays or islands shall 
have the privilege (to wit, each river or island for itself) of designating a deputy who shall 
give the Governor and Council of that country information respecting his Colonie, and promote 
its interests with the Council ; one of which deputies shall be changed every two years, and 
all the Colonies shall be obliged to communicate to the Governor and Council there a pertinent 
report, at least every twelve months, of their condition and of the lands in their vicinity. 

The Company shall exert itself to provide the Patroons and Colonists, on their order, with 
as many Blacks as possible, without however being further or longer obligated thereto than 
shall be agreeable. 

The Company reserves unto itself all large and small tythes, all waifs, the right of mintage, 
laying out highways, erecting forts, making war and peace, together with all wildernesses, 
founding of cities, towns and churches, retaining the supreme authority, sovereignty and 
supremacy, the interpretation of all obscurity which may arise out of this Grant, with such 
understanding, however, that nothing herein contained shall alter or diminish what has been 
granted heretofore to the Patroons in regard to high, middle and low jurisdiction. 

The Company shall, accordingly, appoint and keep there a Governor, competent Councillors, 
Officers and other Ministers of Justice for the protection of the good and the punishment of the 
wicked ; which Governor and Councillors, who are now, or may be hereafter, appointed by 
the Company, shall take cognizance, in the first instance, of matters appertaining to the freedom, 
supremacy, domain, finances and rights of the General West India Company ; of complaints 
which any one (whether stranger, neighbor or inhabitant of the aforesaid country) may 
may make in case of privilege, innovation, dissuetude, customs, usages, laws or pedigrees; 
declare the same corrupt or abolish them as bad, if circumstances so demand; of the cases 
of minor children, widows, orphans and other unfortunate persons, regarding whom complaint 
shall first be made to the Council holding prerogative jurisdiction in order to obtain justice 
there; of all contracts or obligations ; of matters pertaining to possession of benefices, fiefs, 
cases of lesae majestatis, of religion and all criminal matters and excesses prescribed and 
unchallenged, and all persons by prevention may receive acquittance from matters there 
complained of; and generally take cognizance of, and administer law and justice in, all cases 
appertainining to the supremacy of the Company. 



124 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Resolution of the States General empowering Kiliaen Van Rensselaer to dispose of 

his Golonie by Will. 

[From the Register of West India affairs, 1633 — 1651, in the Royal Archives at the Hague.] 

Tuesday, 5 th February 1G41. 
roiio is. Read in the Assembly the petition presented to their High Mightinesses in the 

sseiaer. name, and on the behalf of, Kiliaen Van Renselaer, Patroon of his Colonie called 

Rensselaerswyck, situate on the north river of New Netherland ; praying approval of a certain 
order entered by the Amsterdam Chamber of the West India Company on 14 lb November 1639 
on the margin of the Petitioner's request, to be allowed according to article 7, to dispose of Ii is, the 
Petitioner's, manor or feudal estate referred to in the sixth article of the Freedoms granted to 
the Colonists in New Netherland. Whereupon after deliberation and consideration of the fifth 
article of the abovementioned Freedoms, their High Mightinesses instead of the aforesaid 
approbation by him prayed for, have granted and allowed the Petitioner Veniam tcstandi, in 
order to enable him to dispose by last Will, according to his pleasure, of the aforesaid manor 
or feudal estate, whereof acte shall issue to the Petitioner in due form. 



Power to Kiliaen Van Rensselaer to devise his estate in New Netherland. 

[ From the Acte boek of the States General in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Grant empowering Kiliaen Rensselaer to bequeath and dispose, by last will and 
testament, of his property situate in New Netherland. 

roiio i4o. The States General of the United Netherlands. To all who shall see these or 

hear them read, Health. Be it Known, that on the humble petition of Kiliaen van 
Rensselaer, Patroon of his Colonie named Rensselaers-wyck, situate on the North river of 
New Netherland, within the limits of the General Incorporated West India Company of this 
country, and having referred to the 5 ,h Article of the Freedoms, granted by the Assembly of 
the XIX., of said Company, to all those who shall plant any Colonies in New Netherland 
aforesaid, We have given, granted, allowed and conceded, and do of Our Sovereign power, by 
this Our letter, give, grant, allow and concede unto him, the petitioner, authority to dispose of, 
bequeath, and give directions concerning the aforesaid his fief, named Rensselaers-wyck, either 
by form of testament and last will and codicil, before a notary and witnesses, superintendents 
and vassals of the manor where the said property is situate, or otherwise at his pleasure, for 
the behoof of his children, if any he hath, friends and relatives or others, strangers, as he shall 
please and think proper; the aforesaid, his manorial estate to his children or other persons to 
give, transport, or leave in whole or in part; thereupon to assign rents hereditary, or for life, 
or even to give any one the usufruct thereof, at his discretion and good pleasure. We have, 
moreover, given, and do hereby give, the petitioner permission, power, and leave his aforesaid 
testament and last will, which he will thus make, or hath previously made, to alter, 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: IT. 125 

enlarge, diminish and revoke by codicil, or other arrangement of last will, whenever and at all 
times that lie shall please; which testament, gift and order thus made, or to be made, by the 
petitioner, We now, for then, have confirmed and ratified, by this, Our letter, do confirm, 
ratify and will, that it be maintained and perfected, and be valid and of good effect forever, 
and that whomsoever the aforesaid petitioner hath given the said manor, or a portion 
thereof, or assigned any rents or usufruct thereon to, he shall use the same according to the 
laws, statutes and customs of the place wherein situate, in the same manner, and in all forms 
and ways, as if the said gifts or grants were made and executed before the General Company, 
or others, their agents, whom it may concern. Provided, that to whomsoever the abovenamed 
petitioner shall give, order, or make over the aforesaid fief, whether man or woman, he shall 
be bound, within a year and six weeks after the death of the aforesaid petitioner, or his or her 
entrance into possession of the above described feudal estate, to do homage unto Us and to no one 
else, and pay the rights thereunto appertaining and belonging, all without fraud, guile or craft, 
Wherefore We do request and order the aforementioned General Incorporated West India 
Company, to instruct and command the Governors, or Commanders and Council, who now are, 
or shall hereafter be in New Netherland, and moreover, all others whom it may in any wise 
concern, conjointly and each in particular, as it may behoove him, to maintain and perfect the 
testament, order and last will of the abovenamed petitioner, as he will have made, or yet will 
make it, and as it now by Us is ratified and confirmed as aforesaid; and whomsoever he, by 
his testament and last will, hath given and granted the aforesaid feudal estate, or shall have 
made, assigned, or yet may make, give or assign, any rents or usufructs to, the same to allow 
and permit the quiet and peaceable use and enjoyment thereof, without causing or allowing 
him at any time to experience any let, hindrance or molestation therein to the contrary. 
Given under Our seal, paraph, and the signature of Our Greffier, in the Hague, on the 5 ,h of 
February, 1641. 



Minutes of the Assembly of ATA", respecting Neto Netherland. 

[ From the MS. Folio bound in Vellum, in [he Royal Archives at the Hague, among the Reports of the West India Company. ] 

Extract of a Report made to the States General, of the business transacted at 
the Assembly of the XIX. of the West India Company, at Amsterdam, 
in the year 1642. 

Monday, 3 d March, 1642. 

Is also opened a paket of letters received from Curacao, through New Netherland, wherein 
is one from Jan Claessen van Campen, Director at Curacao, without date or place, with 
some enclosures. 

One from Director William Kieft, from New Netherland, dated 7 lh January, 1642. 

And another from John van der Hil, 1 from New Netherland, dated 6 ,b January, 1642. 

1 Capt John Underhill. — Eu. 



12Q NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

And they are referred to the Mess" Looten, de Raet, Loyssen, Halewyn, Loose and van 
Royen, to examine said letters and papers, as well as the whole state and condition of New 
Netherland, and to report thereon to the Assembly. 

Admonition being given, &c. 

Thursday, 6 ,h March, 1642. 
Read a despatch from Ambassador Joachimi, dated Canterbury, 25th February, 1642, with 
certain appendices containing some declarations and complaints of the English in New 
England against our people in New Netherland; and placed the same in the hands of the 
Commissioners on the affairs of New Netherland. 

Friday, the 7 ,h March, 1642. 
Read a petition of Cornells van Hoykens, fiscal in New Netherland, soliciting increase of 
salary, with good accommodation in his quarters. And resolved to place the same in the 
hands of the Commissioners on the affairs of New Netherland. 

Wednesday, 12 th March, 1642. 

The Commissioners on the affairs of New Netherland, having reported on the despatch of 
the ambassador Joachimi, and the complaints of the English, therein contained, It is resolved, 
to place the said despatch, with all papers and maps touching New Netherland, in the hands 
of the Advocate, to form a rescript for Mr. Joachimi. 

The Committee nominated on the 3 d instant to examine the papers from New Netherland 
and Curasao, report that they are of opinion still to preserve the said places at the smallest 
expense possible, conforming to the letter of the Director there, dated 4 ,h July, the resolution 
of the XIX., and letter of the 20 ,h September, 1641, sent to the aforesaid Director by the ship 
the Brandaris, which the Assembly approves; and resolves, moreover, to postpone the sending 
of a Clergyman or Vicar. 



Resolution of the States General on a Petition of Fiscal Van Dinclagen. 

[ From the Register of West India affairs, 1628—1651, in the Royal Archirea at the Hague. ] 

Wednesday, 2lst May, 1642. 
Foiio to. The further petition of Lubbert van Dincklagen, late fiscal of New Netherland, 

lagen. " with the appendix thereunto annexed, is, after previous deliberation, referred to 

their High Migtinesses' deputies, actually presiding at the Assembly of the XIX. of the West 
India Company, at Amsterdam, in order that the petitioner may, by their direction and 
interposition, obtain his just arrears, which the said Company may owe him on his claims. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: II. 127 

Mr. Joachimi to tJie States General. 

[ From Ihe Original in Hie Royal Archives at the Hague ; File, Engclund. ] 

Higli and Mighty Lords. 

My Lords, 

No notice has been taken in the House of Commons of what I communicated to some Lords 
on the xxii. and xxiii., from your High Mightinesses' letter of the twelfth instant, as I have 
understood from a Knight, a member of the same house, who is also of opinion that the alliance 
with Spain and the trade are wholly opposed to our proposal. 

Since my last of the xxv., some more cavalry have made their appearance here; and infantry 
are continued to be enlisted by beat of drum. Some of these have been sent to Hull. It was 
here considered certain that the King hath some force in the vicinity of this city, with a view 
to seize it; that they are not three thousand strong, and that they had burnt some mills in the 
neighborhood of the city; but that those inside have received three or four pieces of artillery 
and taken twelve or thirteen persons prisoners. The particulars are diversely related. 

On the xxvi., the votes and resolutions appeared in print, whereby it was determined to raise 
an army of which the Earl of Essex ' is to be General, the Earl of Bedford 2 to be General of 
the Cavalry, as your High Mightinesses will see in the printed paper sent herewith. I find 
that the little service I can perform here has been much curtailed by the publication of the 
aforesaid resolution. 

Letters are received from the Commissioners, who went on the part of both houses of 
Parliament to the King, that they had presented, on Saturday evening, the petition with which 
they had been dispatched, to his Majesty, who had taken it for examination. I have not yet 
learned the answer. 

If the Parliamentarians will be reconciled to the King, private complaints of the people 
against the Dutch, and petitions for the improvement of trade will undoubtedly be brought 
forward and examined in Parliament. It should therefore (under gracious correction) be 
seasonably considered, how the issue of letters of reprisal, or the passage of resolutions affecting 
the trade, is to be prevented ; from which serious inconveniences must arise. 

Among the English complainants, are the inhabitants of New England, as your High 
Mightinesses will be able to perceive from a Memorial hereunto annexed, handed me by my 
Lord Seie. 3 The Earl of Warwick had already handed me a similar one in English. Some of 

1 Robert Devebeux, 3d Earl of Essex, was appointed to the command of the army, against the Scotch Covenanters, in 
1639; afterwards Lord Chamberlain, and in 1641, Lieutenant of the Kingdom south of the Trent. In the following year he 
was dismissed from his office of Lord Chamberlain, whereupon the Parliament appointed him to the command of their forces. 
He was then declared a traitor by the King, against whom he fought with various success, until the year 1645, when he 
resigned his commission. He died in September, 1646. 

* William Russell, 5th Earl, and 1st Duke of Bedford, K. G., was born in 1614 ; created Marquess of Tavistock and Duke 
of Bedford, 11th May, 1649, and died 7 September, 1700. He was father of the celebrated Lord William Russel, who was 
beheaded in 1683. Debrett. 

' William Fienxes, 4th Baron, was created in 1624 Viscount, Say and Sele. He was one of the original patentees of 
Connecticut After passing harmless through the troubles which at this period convulsed England, he became Lord Privy 
Seal after the Restoration, which he had been instrumental in bringing about, and died in 1662. Saybrook, in Connecticut, 
derives the first part of its name from this nobleman. The latter part from Lord Brook, afterwards a Parliamentary general, 
and killed at Litchfield in 1742. — Ed. 



128 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

the said complainants have spoken very menacingly and said : — If the matter be not arranged, 

our people will be, within the year, expelled from the quarter whence the complaints 

proceeded. The Directors of the West India Company have cognizance of the aforesaid 

complaints. On the xxiii. instant, I communicated to my Lord Seie above mentioned, information 

relative to the aforesaid memorial, copy whereof goes herewith. He requested that letters be 

written to the Dutch who are in New Netherland, to the end that our people, who have been 

complained of, may comport themselves in a peaceable and friendly manner with the English. 

I doubt if he hath correctly seized the meaning of the English. 

The Mayor of London is still in the Tower. He cannot be prevailed on to name a Deputy 

to fill his place in the City. It is said there is no precedent for the appointment of a Deputy to 

a Mayor, except he be sick, or not in his proper mind. 

Herewith commending myself humbly to your High Mightinesses, I pray God, 

High and Mighty Lords, that He may bless your High Mightinesses' government more 

and more. 

Your High Mightinesses' most humble servant, 

At London, the last of July, 1642. (Signed), Alb. Joachimi. 

Received, 9 th August, 1642. 

Appendix received from My Lord Sa.ye. Read 9 th August, 1642. 

[ From the Original in the Royal Archives at the Hague ; File, TFt?.s( Indie."] 

Many of the English (his Majesty's Subjects) having been incorporated by his Majesty's 
letters patent and having, in order to obviate all difficulties, purchased the land from the 
natives, the acknowledged and right owners thereof, established divers factories on the river 
Conectecot, in New England, where they have experienced manifold molestations and insolences 
from the Dutch nation, who, having previously erected a small factory on the aforesaid river, 
claim, in virtue thereof, the right to the whole, and not only that, but to all the extent of 
country from Naraganset Bay to Iludsons river, which they call by the name of New Netherland, 
although it had been granted by his Majesty to divers of his subjects, and is exclusively 
inhabited by the English, entered many protests against the peaceable proceedings of the 
English, towards whom they have transgressed in various manners and ways, adding thereunto 
sundry threats and haughty arguments. All which the English bore, and though no more 
than five or six Dutch, at most, reside on the aforesaid river Conecticot, where there are 
exceeding two thousand English, yet the latter have not used any violence towards them, but 
treated them with all kindness; yea, have they been the means, under God, of saving 
their lives. 

The Dutch sometimes, 'tis true, aver that they purchased from the Pequot Indians, a piece 
of land lying on the aforesaid river, to which, in virtue of that purchase, they pretend a right. 
But if any such purchase has been effected, which has never been proved, it is very well known 
that the Pequots had no just, but an usurped, title. And herein is apparent the weakness of 
their claim : the English, by divers letters addressed to Governor Willem Kieft, residing on 
Hadsons river, offered to refer the settlement of the aforesaid difference to disinterested 
arbitrators, but he would not accept it. 

It is requested that they be ordered to demean themselves, in the place they occupy, in 
a peaceable, neighborly manner, and be content with their own limits, or required to leave the 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: II. 129 

river; which would tend most to their masters' advantage; it being very probable that the 
returns have never repaid, or will never reimburse, their outlays. Moreover, they live there 
without rule, in a godless manner, beseeming in no wise the Gospel of Christ. Their abode 
there will never be productive of any other effect than expense to their masters, and trouble to 
the English. 1 



>~ " ♦ »— »- 



JResolution of the States General, referring the preceding Documents. 

[ From the Register of the West India affairs, 1633 — 1651, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Saturday, 9 August, 1642. 

Foiio 76. Received a letter from Mr. Joachimi, their High Mightinesses' Ambassador in 

Heer joachimi. England, written at London the last of July; with an appendix containing 
complaints of several of the English against the Dutch people in New Netherland. Which 
EngnsiTagainsi "he being considered, it is resolved and concluded that copy of the aforesaid 
fnNewNeihe P r°a£d e . complaints of the English be sent to the presiding Chamber of the West India 
Company at Amsterdam, for information. 



States General to the Amsterdam Chamber of the West India Company. 

[ From the Minute In the Royal Archives at the Hague ; File, West Indie.] 

To the presiding Chamber of the West India Company at Amsterdam, the 9 th August, 1642. 

The States, etc. 

F^gnsh."" ° f the You will learn from the annexed papers we have resolved to send you herewith 
for information (which you will communicate to us with all speed), what Mr. Joachimi, our 
ordinary Ambassador in England, hath in his letter, dated last of July past, represented to us 
relative to complaints of many Englishmen against the Dutch people of New Netherland. 

Done 9 August, 1642. 



Mr. Joachimi to the States General. 

[ From the Original in the Royal Archives at the Hague ; File, Engeland. ] 

High and Mighty Lords! 

My Lords! 

Your High Mightinesses have been able to gather from my despatch of the last of July, the 
latest information I possessed respecting the matter I had submitted to some Lords, in 

1 Mr. de Zwaan says, of the Dutch MS. — "This piece is evidently a translation from the English." — Ed. 
Vol. I. 17 



J30 NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

accordance with your High Mightinesses' letter of the xii th preceding. On last Sunday, one 
of the best informed Lords, an Earl, came to me, who said a misfortune had occurred; that 
the Hollanders had captured and sent to Zealand twelve or thirteen ships that designed to enter 
Dunkirk under convoy of a ship of war, which the Earl of Warwick 1 had granted them. And 
that the said Earl, without waiting the opinion of Parliament, had detained three Dutch 
merchant vessels, which were bound for the Mediterranean ; then, that he hoped the aforesaid 
three ships would be discharged the next day, and requested that I should represent this in most 
favorable terms beyond sea. Thereupon I said to the aforesaid Lord, that I was willing to do 
whatever might tend to the preservation of friendship between both States and Nations. But 
that I had received neither letter nor complaint respecting what precedes. On the following 
day, I acquainted another Lord of the Upper House of what the aforesaid Earl had 
communicated to, and requested of, me; and added thereto, that, with his Lordship's permission, 
1 should come at noon, or send to inquire what had been done regarding this affair. He 
said, I should send and he would communicate the resolution to me. I received the answer 
first on Tuesday; and he let me know by the person 1 had sent, that orders had been given 
the day before, without in any wise giving me to understand what had been ordered. I had 
dispatched an express to Dover, on Monday, to obtain information of the real state of the 
detention of abovementioned three Mediterranean traders, who brought me an answer in 
writing from Sieur Cornells Bos, that twelve ships, mostly English, were taken to Zealand by 
Mr. Tromp; and that on the ii. of the month, five Dutch Mediterranean merchantmen were 
detained in the Downs; but that these were released on the evening of the fifth. He added, 
moreover, that their voyage was scarcely interrupted. No complaints have been presented to 
me from these ships, nor from those carried into Zealand. Since, a report has been rendered 
by the Commissioners, who had been to the King, at Beverly, from the Parliament, to propose 
terms of accommodation to His Majesty, whereby the danger of a civil war might be avoided; 
people have been continually occupied in enlisting and mustering troops, both foot and horse. 
The city of London will furnish, and maintain for some months, it is reported, five thousand 
men. The apprentices who volunteer with their masters' consent, and will be received into 
service, will, by their service, shorten their apprenticeship, and be for ever freemen of London. 
A great many more are presenting themselves than it is designed to accept. One of the 
Commissioners who had been to the King, told me, that Parliament had offered to place 
the city of Hull in His Majesty's hands; to restore the magazine that was there; to 
regulate the militia by bill ; to discharge the forces enlisted on both sides, at one and the same 
time. And he declared, moreover, that those of the Parliament will uphold the King in good 
faith, and sincerely in his prerogative, dignity and rank. On the other hand, his Majesty 
requires, first of all, that Hull and the magazine be restored. That those of the Parliament do 
first dismiss the force they have raised, and place the militia, as well as the fleet, at his 
disposal. Moreover, that the Parliament be adjourned, to meet in some other place besides 
Westminster or London. This being effected, his Majesty will consider what is necessary to 

1 Robert Rich, 2d Earl of Warwick, succeeded to his father's title on 24th March, 1618-19; he was a great friend of the 
Puritans, and High Admiral for the Long Parliament. After rilling various offices, he died May 29, 1659. His nephew 
in irried Frances, youngest daughter of Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector of England. Collins' Peerage. Ed. 1756. II., 238. 
lie was, says Clarendon, a man of pleasant and companionable wit and conversation; of an universal jollity; and such a 
license in his words and actions, that a man of less virtue could not be found out. The Earl of Warwick was president of 
the Council of Plymouth, under which the New England colonies were planted ; and his connexion with the Puritans, with 
w horn he was very popular, may account for the character of the early emigration to those parts. — Ed. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: IT. 131 

be done with Parliament, for the good of the nation. Some of the Commissioners' suite had 
heard some Cavaliers of the court wish the said Commissioners much had luck, should they 
wait on the King for the purpose of making peace. A printed copy of the King's answer 
accompanies this, by which your High Mightinesses will perceive, more clearly, the nature of 
his Majesty's demands, and that he hath required a full and positive answer thereunto by 
Wednesday, the xxvii. of July, old style. How it is received by the Houses of Parliament, I 
have not heard for certain. After the departure of the aforesaid Commissioners, the King 
went to Leicestershire, where, it is reported, a division has broken out among the people. 
And a committee of Parliament is engaged in putting into execution the militia law. The 
people had, moreover, refused to deliver up the magazine; but it is as yet scarcely possible to 
write with any certainty about such matters as transpire at a distance from here; seeing, by 
daily experience, that things are printed here, under the eyes of Parliament, which have not 
the least semblance of truth. 

Your High Mightinesses' despatches of the xxvii. July, are delivered to me whilst I am 
engaged in writing this. I thank your High Mightinesses for the Rescript, 1 and I shall make 
use of it as occasion demands, and state decidedly every where, when the subject is mentioned, 
that your High Mightinesses will not meddle with the domestic difficulties of this kingdom, 
and that the government of the United Netherlands keeps itself neutral in this regard. I avoid 
as much as possible having any thing to do with the Parliament, and holding any conversation 
with the members thereof, in order not to excite any cause of jealousy. 

I mentioned in my last of the xxxi. July, that the English in New England complain of 
the Dutch in New Netherland, and that some of the English have spoken very boldly and said, 
if the affair were not settled, that the Dutch would, within a year, be out of those parts whence 
the complaints proceeded. Those who dare threaten in that manner, would perhaps also 
venture on putting threats into execution. 

What my Lord Seye requests, is ineffectual to keep the English back from New Netherland, 
should they design driving our people from their place. I have, therefore, bethought me to 
propose respectfully to your High Mightinesses, whether it would not be proper, in order 
to obviate inconveniences, that your High Mightinesses should write to the King and request 
his Majesty to be pleased to order the English in New England to leave the Dutch undisturbed 
in New Netherland and parts adjacent, where they had been before the English arrived in 
those countries. For such orders must proceed from his Majesty, who might take it ill that 
the Houses of Parliament were applied to for a remedy, whose orders probably would not be 
acknowledged in that far distant quarter. In considering the aforesaid point, it is (with 
submission), to be borne in mind, that the winter will be soon at hand, and that opportunities 
to go, or to send letters to those parts, do not occur every day. 

The Portuguese agent, who remained here after the Ambassador's departure, spoke to me on 
Saturday last, to request Vice Admiral Tromp to assist two Commissioners of the King his 
master, who had arrived at Dover, in reaching the United Provinces in safety. They were 
sent, he said, to your High Mightinesses on business of importance, and which required 
despatch. I granted him his request; but I know not whether Mr. Tromp can accommodate 

1 See Aitzema. Folio. II., 81G, for the terras or basis of the Rescript. — Ed. 



132 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

him. The Earl of Leicester 1 left here last week for his government, in Ireland. Herewith 

ending, I commend myself respectfully to your High Mightinesses, and pray God, 

High and Mighty Lords, that He may bless your High Mightinesses' Government more 

and more. 

Your High Mightinesses' 

London, the eighth of August, 1642. most obedient servant, 

Received 16 ,h of August, 1642. (Signed) Alb. Joachimi. 

P. S. The letter was entirely written when I received the printed replies to the King's 
answer brought over lately by the Earl of Holland. 2 A copy of said replies is hereunto annexed. 



■«.•»■.» 



New Netherland. 1638 to 1642. 

In all the Points of Reference for the Assembly of the XIX. of the West India Company, received by the States General 
between 9 September, 1638, and 23d August, 1642, no mention is found of New Netherland, though all these points have 
been carefully examined twice. J. A. de Zwaan. 

March, 1843. 



Subject for the Consideration of the Assembly of the XIX. 

[ From the Original in the Royal Archives at the Hague : File, West Indie. ] 

Points whereupon all the Chambers of the West India Company are summoned 
to Amsterdam for the 15 Sepf 1642, extracted so far as relates to the 
affairs of New Netherland. Read 23 Aug. 1642. 
24 th Point. 

And in what way to devise an effectual and good plan for the places in New Netherland 
regarding the Freedoms and peopling thereof, and, generally, in what manner the aforesaid 
conquests shall be resorted to and traded with. 

1 Robert Sidney, 2d Earl of Leicester, and brother-in-law of the Earl of Northumberland, was a man of great parts, very 
conversant in books, and much addicted to the mathematics ; and though he had been a soldier, and commanded a regiment in 
the service of the United Provinces, and was afterwards employed in several embassies, as in Denmark and France, was in 
truth, rather a speculative than a practical man. He was, after the death of the Earl of Strafford, in 1641, called from the 
embassy iu France to be Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, and shortly after lost the King's favor and his office, without having 
gone to take possession of that government; after which he joined the Parliament, and Cromwell showed his sense of that 
step by appointing Lord Lisle, his eldest son, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland in 1648. Clarendon. 

* Henry Rich, 1st Earl of Holland, K. G., was the second son of Robert, 1st Earl of Warwick, and brother of Robert, 
mentioned iu a preceding note. He was created Knight of the Bath in 1611, and in 1618, Captain of the King's Guard; 
became Lord Kensington in 1623-4, and Earl of Holland in Lincolnshire, in 1623. He was sent ambassador to Fiance, and 
afterwards to the United Provinces, in 1625, in which country he had already made two or three campaigns, and in 1639, on 
the first insurrection of the Scots, was constituted General of the Horse in the expedition into that country. On the break- 
ing out of the Rebellion, he endeavored to accommodate matters, and with that, view, accompanied the Earl of Bedford ( see 
supra, p. 127.) to the King at Oxford. But these efforts becoming fruitless, he took up arms in the Royal cause, was taken 
prisoner in July, 1648, condemned to death by the High Court of Justice, and beheaded on the 9th of March, 1649, before 
the gates of Westminster Hall. Collins. — Ed. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: II. 133 



Mr. Joachimi to the States General. 

[ From the Original in tbe Royal Archives at the Hague : File, Engeland. ] 

High and Mighty Lords ! 

My Lords, 

My servant, whom I sent on the iii. inst. to Holland with despatches to your High Mightinesses 
and his Highness, returned yesterday with a certificate, that he had duly delivered them, 
without bringing back any rescript from your High Mightinesses : I shall expect it shortly. I 
submitted to your High Mightinesses, in a despatch of the last of July, divers points to which 
(under correction) attention ought to be paid. Among the rest, to that of the complaint 
which the English of New England make against some of the Dutch Company in New 
Netherland. Were these to be once dislodged, they could not return there except with 
great difficulty. 

On the xviii. of August I also requested your High Mightinesses to be pleased to consider, 
in case the war proceed, whether the Ambassadors are at liberty to remain here, where the 
Parliament meets, or to repair to the King, without their Sovereigns and themselves being 
thereby understood to be compromised ; and what is best to be done at this conjuncture, so that 
neither your High Mightinesses nor the State, nor your High Mightinesses' servant may be put, 
on this account, to any inconvenience. The French Ambassador hath taken his leave of the 
King, and calculates to depart this week. He leaves only one person here, who will send him 
over an account of whatever transpires in this place. With my last of the xii., I sent your High 
Mightinesses the King's Message to both Houses of Parliament, brought over by the Earls of 
Dorset 1 and Southampton 2 and their co-delegates, at the close of last August, with the answer 
of the aforesaid houses thereunto of the xxix. Another Message from his Majesty, or a reply 
to the aforesaid answer and the declaration made on the fifth of September thereon by the 
Lords and Commons in Parliament accompanies this despatch. Adjoined to them are two 
Journals of what had been done in the House of Commons during the week last past. In 
two or three days, we shall know what resolution the Lords of the Upper house will have 
adopted on the subject of the Episcopacy. Those of Scotland also desire that the Church 
government may be assimilated and rendered uniform in both Kingdoms. A Parliamentman 
told me to-day that the West Riding of Yorkshire hath pronounced for the Parliament, and that 
the two Serjeants major who were sent up from Boston with nine or ten Officers, are placed 
in separate prisons. News is received here of the siege of Sherborne [Castle] from which the 

1 Edward Sackville, 4th Earl of Dorset, K. G., was born in the year 1590. He represented the county of Sussex in the 
time of James I.; accompanied the forces sent in 1620, to the assistance of the King of Bohemia, and was engaged in 
the battle of the Prague. He was Ambassador to France in 1621, and succeeded to the title, on the death of his brother, 
in 1624 In the following year, he became one of the Lords of Trade ; in 1627 he was appointed one of the Commissioners 
to conclude an alliance with the States General and in 1633 one of the Lords of the Admiralty. On the breaking out of 
the civil war he adhered to the King; superceded the Earl of Essex as Lord Chamberlain ; in 1646, he, with others of the 
Council, signed the capitulation for the surrender of Oxford, and in the following year retired into private life. He died on 
the 11th July, 1652. Collins. I., pt. ii., 768. —Ed. 

J Thomas Wriotheslv, Earl of Southampton, K. G., Lord High Treasurer of England, The title became extinct on his 
death in 1667. Debrett — Ed. 



_L34 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Marquess of Hertford 1 fled. Some great men say, that those besieged have slain between two 
and three hundred of the Parliamentarians. From the South we hear, that those who invest 
Portsmouth, have captured a fort wherein they have got thirty pieces of cannon. It will 
probably follow from this, that this place will surrender to them. 

Herewith humbly commending myself to your High Mightinesses, I shall conclude and pray 
God, High and Mighty Lords, that he may preserve and protect Fatherland. 

Your High Mightiness' 
London, the 17" 1 September, 1642. most humble servant, 

Received 27 ,b September, 1G42. (Signed) Alb. Joachimi. 

1642. 

P. S. News arrived, after this was written, that Portsmouth has surrendered to the Parliament. 
The conditions have not been yet received. Dated as above. 



Mr. Joachimi to the States General. 

[ From the Original in the Boyal Archives at the Hague ; File, Engeland. ] 

High and Mighty Lords! 

My Lords ! 

Your High Mightinesses could have seen from my last, of the ix. instant, what has been said 
here of the rencontre which occurred on the previous Saturday, near Worcester, between the 
Cavaliers under Prince Robert and some Companies of the Parliamentarians. Your High ' 
Mightinesses will receive herewith the information communicated thereby to the King, and a 
book containing an agreement between the nobility and gentry of Yorkshire, mutually pledging 
themselves to remain neuter and to abstain, in the aforesaid County, from the proceedings 
and quarters of both sides. Against this the Parliament hath published a declaration, which 
is attached to the aforesaid agreement, commencing "fourteen articles of peace." Private 
letters have also been received from Lancaster stating that six standards have been presented 
to the King which were taken, in the rencontre above mentioned, from the Parliamentarians; 
and it is reported that some thousands of the latter have been slain. 

A Parliamentman of quality told me, on Saturday last, that the Earl of Essex was with 
the army within twelve miles of Shrewsbury ; that place has been fortified by the King, who 
keeps his main force there. It is believed that My Lord Strange, now Earl of Derby, 2 by the 

1 William Seymour, Earl of Hertford, K. G., succeeded to the title on the death of his grandfather in 1621, and was 
advanced to the dignity of Marquess on the 3d of June, 1640, and constituted Governor of the Prince of Wales. On the 
breaking out of the rebellion, he was made Lieutenant-General of all the King's forces in the counties of Wilts, Southampton, 
Dorset, etc., and in 1643 Groom of the Stole. On the Restoration, he succeeded in being acknowledged as Duke of Somerset, 
which title was forfeited by the attainder of his grandfather, in the reign of Edward VI., and died on the 24th October, 1660. 
His second wife was sister of the Earl of Essex. ( Supra, p. 127.) Collins. I., pt. i., 188. 

3 James Stanley, 7th Earl of Derby, was summoned to Parliament by the title of Lord Strange, 13th February, 1628, and 
succeeded to the Earldom on the death of his father, 29 September, 1642. His Lordship was highly accomplished with 
learning, prudence, loyalty and true valor, whereof he gave signal proofs, on several occasions, in the Civil Wars of England. 
On the loss of the battle of Worcester, he was taken prisoner and condemned to die, notwithstanding his plea that, on being 
taken prisoner, quarter for life had been granted him. He was beheaded at Bolton on the 15th of October, 1651. The 
particulars of his death ore very fully detailed in Collins, If., 84, — En. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: II. 135 

death of his father, has been before Manchester with about three thousand men to invest 
the place; and that he hath suffered some loss from those occupying that post. If this siege 
should continue I cannot write anything as certain. 

Of the Marquess of Hertford it is stated that he has succeeded in getting into one of the Castles 
at Falmouth. I have not heard whether the petition, which the Parliament recommended to 
the Earl of Essex, is sent to the King. Something has been done here in Church matters. 
It is currently reported that the Queen has gone to France, and an officer of the King 
hath informed me that his Majesty has sent off two Lords to convey her Majesty thither. 
Your High Mightinesses can best tell how much truth is in it. Your High Mightinesses will 
please to find, in the accompanying Journals, what has occurred here during the past week. 
Towards the end of the aforesaid week, the Duke of Soubisse died here. A distinguished 
Knight, who sold his property above eight or nine years ago and removed the proceeds, as 
well as his sons, to New England, yesterday renewed to me the complaints against some of 
our nation belonging to iN'ew Netherland, relative to which I have heretofore written to your 
High Mightinesses. It will be necessary seasonably to consider the means of preventing an 
attack being attempted on our people. Herewith, commending myself to your High 
Mightinesses, I pray God, High and Mighty Lords, to prosper the State and to bless your 
High Mightinesses' Government. 

Your High Mightinesses' 
London, the xvii. October, 1642. Most humble Servant, 

Received 25"> October, 1642. ( Signed ) Alb : Joachimi. 



Resolution of the States General on the preceding Despatches. 

I From the Register of 'West India Affairs, 1633— 1651, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Saturday, 25 Ib October, 1642. 

Folio 80. 

Heer Joachimi. Received a letter and appendix from Mr. Joachimi, their High Mightinesses' 

ordinary Ambassador in England, written at London the lS' h inst. ; the aforesaid letter 
New Netherland containing, among the rest, a notice of affairs that occurred in New Netherland ; 
which, being taken into consideration, it is resolved and concluded, that the 
retro-acta relating hereunto shall be examined. 



Subjects for the Consideration of the Assembly of the XIX. 1643. 

[ From the Original, in the Eoyal Archives at the Hague ; File, West ImlU. ] 

Points on which all the Chambers of the West India Company are summoned 
to Amsterdam for the 21 February, 1643; extracted so far as they relate to 
the affairs of New Netherland. Read 2 February, 1643. 

18 ,h Point. 

It being found that New Netherland hath been hitherto of great expense and small profit to 
the Company, and that the plan of opening the trade to said place, produces no true effect 



136 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

according to the intent, inasmuch as many will go thither to trade without acquiring a domicile 
there ; and therefore, population scarcely increases there, whilst trade is seriously ruined. 
Therefore, the members are recommended to consider whether the internal trade there ought 
not to be confined to the inhabitants of that country. And in order to induce a greater number 
to repair thither, and to encourage the people there to the culture of the soil, grain and the 
fisheries, whether it would not be well to open to the inhabitants who have a permanent domicile, 
and oblige themselves to remain there, the trade from that country to Brazil, under proper 
orders and duties, for the benefit of the Company; and vice versa, that from Brazil back to 
New Netherland. 
19. 

In like manner, as a supply not only of all sorts of animals and cattle, but especially of salt, 
is necessary for that country ; and the islands of Curacao, Bonaire, Aruba particularly, furnish 
no other supplies, the settlement and cultivation of said islands by private individuals, under 
conditions to be thereunto agreed on, shall also have to be considered ; permitting the trade 
between them, New Netherland and Brazil, and vice versa as above, in the Company's 
unarmed ships. 
20. 

Moreover, that all the Chambers that trade exclusively to one quarter or the other, shall 
bring the account thereof with them, in order to determine, after examination of the same, if 
it be expedient to continue that course, or to open the trade. 



— ■•»■■» 



Subject for the Consideration of the Assembly of the XIX. 1643. 

[ From the Original in the Royal Archives of the Hague ; File, West Indie. ] 

Points on which all the Chambers of the West India Company are summoned 
to Amsterdam for the 11 July, 1643; extracted so far as relates to the 
affairs of New Netherland. Received 19 June, 1643. 

9 th Point. 

Proper enquiry shall, moreover, be made, and order also given as to the trade which some 
Chambers separately carry on to one quarter or the other, especially how, in accordance with 
the 18 th and 19 th points of reference of the last Assembly, the island of Curacao and New 
Netherland can best be benefitted; and, in the meantime, to resume the papers lately received 
from thence. 



•» ■ • » ■ ' - 



Resolution of the States General on a Petition from Fiscal Van Dinclagen. 

[ Frcm the Register of West India Affairs, 163S — 1661, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Tuesday, 28 July, 1643. 
Folio 99. The petition with the appendix presented to their High Mightinesses by and 

Dinciagen. on the behalf of Lubbert Van Dincklagen, late fiscal of New Netherland, being 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: II. 137 

read to the Assembly, complaining that he, the petitioner, hath not been able as yet to obtain 
from the West India Company, payment of his three years' services and other claims. After 
previous deliberation, it is resolved and concluded, to refer the petitioner hereby to the Courts 
of Justice. 



States General to the Assembly of the XIX. 

[ From the Minnie In the Royal Archives at the Hague ; File, West Indie. ] 

To the Assembly of the XIX. of the West India Company, the 20 ,h August, 1643. 

The States, &c. 
complaint* of the Whereas [complaints have! come now and again before us from the English 

Englu-h in New . .. . -T ' , , . J ° ° 

England. residing in New England, against the Dutch settled in New Netherland ; Therefore, 

we have resolved and concluded hereby to request and require you to take care that no acts 
of hostility do arise [on any pretence] between the English and Dutch nations; but on the 
contrary, that good friendship and harmony be maintained with the English. Expecting which. 

Done 20 ,h August, 1643. 

The words within brackets, in the above letter, are supplied, as the MS. is imperfect, in conseqnence of the original being, 
as it is stated, partially illegible, from damp. — En. 



Resolution of the States General on a Report of the Proceedings of the XIX. 

[ From the Register of West India affairs, 1638—1651, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Saturday, 7th November, 1643. 
Folio 106. The report being heard of Mess" van der Cappelle tho Ryssel and Hogendorp, 

sided at the xix. (Mr. Bicker being absent) who by virtue of their High Mightinesses' Commission, 
presided at the Assembly of the West India Company holden at Amsterdam, in September and 
Report, etc. October last; and the said report being exhibited and submitted in writing; It is 

upon previous deliberation, resolved and concluded, etc. 

Lubbert ran And as to what regards the case of Lubbert van Dingslagen, the retroacta shall 

Dmgsiagen. De examined, j n order that they be placed together with the petitioner's request, 

in the hands of their High Mightinesses' Commissioners. Finally, the Lords of Holland are, at 
their request, granted a copy of the aforesaid written report; with recommendation that they 
assist in forwarding the mattter therein set forth, so far as their Province is concerned. 

Vol. I. 18 



138 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Resolution of the States General. 

I From the Register of West India affairs, 163S— 1651, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Tuesday, 24th November, 1643. 
Folio 107. Deliberation being had, it is hereby resolved and concluded to delegate Mr. 

LubbertvanDinsia- ^ rn j ieni) j n tne matter of Lubbertus van Dinslaken, late fiscal of New Netherland, 
in the stead of Mr. Bommel, (in consequence of the latter's departure). 



«..»■.» 



Subject for the Consideration of the Assembly of the XIX. 1643. 

[ From the Original, in the Royal Archives, at the Hague. File, West Indie. ] 

Points whereon all the Chambers of the West India Company are summoned 
to Amsterdam, for the 12 th December, 1643; extracted so far as relates to 
the affairs of New Netherland. Received 2 December, 1643. 

10 th Point. 

Item. Due inquiry ought to be again made and order also given respecting the trade 
which some Chambers carry on separately to one quarter and another; whether it can be best 
promoted by trading conjointly to several places, or otherwise, each independently; first of all, 
praying strict attention to the Island of Cura§ao and New Netherland; both of which cost the 
Company considerable annually, without affording any profit or return. 



Resolution of the States General in the matter of Fiscal van Dinclagen. 

[ From the Register of West India Affairs, 163S— 1651, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Friday, 11 December, 1643. 
Foiio 108. Having heard the report of Mr. Arnhem and other their High Mightinesses' 
Deputies, in virtue of their respective resolutions of the 7 th and 24 th November last, and having 
viewed and examined the petitions and appendices heretofore presented to their High 
Lubbert van Dine- Mightinesses by and on behalf of Lubbert van Dincklagen, late Advocate fiscal 
and Sheriff of New Netherland, instituting complaint of and against the West 
India Company of these parts, in order to receive from it payment of his three years' service 
and other claims, which he maintains to be due him from the above named Company. It 
is, after previous deliberation, and after examining their High Mightinesses' resolution of 
the 28 th July hereupon, in conformity thereunto, hereby again resolved and concluded, to 
refer the Petitioner to the Courts of Justice. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: II. 139 

Resolution of the States General in the matter of Fiscal van Dinclagen. 

[ From the Register of West India Affairs, 1688 — 1G5I, in the Eoyal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Wednesday, 1G December, 1G43. 
1 ''" 1 '" 1 "■'• The further petition of Lubbert van Dinckxlagen, late Fiscal and Sheriff in New 

Labbert van Dinc- 
lagen. Netherland, with the vouchers thereunto annexed, are, after previous deliberation, 

placed in the hands of their High Mightinesses' Deputies going to preside at the next Assembly 

of the XIX. of the West India Company, in order to urge and endeavor that the petitioner 

may be deprived of complaint ; and their High Mightinesses' resolutions of the 2S th of last 

July and xi. instant, respectively adopted in the Petitioner's case, are, in consequence, 

hereby altered. 



Memorial of the Eight Men at the Manhattans to the States General. 

[ From the authenticated copy in the Eoyal Archives at the Hague ; File, JTm>< Indie.] 

Noble, High and Mighty Lords, the Noble Lords the States General of the United 
Netherland Provinces. 

Noble, High and Mighty Lords. 

As no sacrifice is more acceptable to our God than an humble spirit and a contrite heart, so 
nothing should, in like manner, be more pleasing to all Christian princes and magistrates, than 
to lend an ear to their complaining, and to extend their hand to their distressed, subjects. 

It is then so that we poor inhabitants of New Netherland were here in the Spring pursued by 
these wild Heathens and barbarous Savages with fire and sword; daily in our houses and 
fields have they cruelly murdered men and women; and with hatchets and tomahawks struck 
little children dead in their parents' arms or before their doors ; or carried them away into 
bondage; the houses and grain-barracks are burnt with the produce; cattle, of all descriptions, 
are slain and destroyed, and such as remain must perish this approaching Winter for the want 
of fodder. 

Almost every place is abandoned. We, wretched people, must skulk, with wives and little 
ones that still survive, in poverty together, in and around the fort at the Manahatas where we 
are not safe even for an hour; whilst the Indians daily threaten to overwhelm us with it. 
Very little can be planted this autumn, and much less in the spring; so that it will come to 
pass that all of us who will yet save our lives, must of necessity perish next year of hunger 
and sorrow, with our wives and children, unless our God have pity on us. 

We are all here, from the smallest to the greatest, devoid of counsel and means, wholly 
powerless. The enemy meets with scarce any resistance. The garrison consists of but 50 
(1^60 soldiers unprovided with ammunition. Fort Amsterdam, utterly defenceless, stands 
open to the enemy night and day. The Company hath few or no effects here (as the Director 
hath informed us); were it not for this, there would have been still time to receive assistance 



140 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

from the English at the East (ere all had gone to ruin); and we wretched settlers, whilst we 
must abandon all our substance, are exceedingly poor. 

These heathens are strong in might; they have formed an alliance with seven other nations; 
are well provided with guns, powder and lead, which they purchased for beaver from the 
private traders who have had, for a long time, free range here ; the rest they take from our 
fellow countrymen whom they murder. 

In fine, we experience here the greatest misery, which must astonish a Christian heart to 
see or to hear. " 

We turn then, in a body, to you, High and Mighty Lords, acknowledging you as our 
Sovereigns and the Fathers of Fatherland. We supplicate, for God's sake, and for the love 
your High Mightinesses bear your poor and desolate subjects here in New Netherland, that your 
High Mightinesses would take pity on us, your poor people, and encourage the Company 
thereunto, and command them (to whom we also hereby make known our necessity) to 
forward us, by the earliest opportunity, such assistance as your High Mightinesses will deem 
most proper, in order that we, poor forlorn people, may not be left all at once a prey, with 
wives and children, to these cruel heathens. And should suitable assistance not speedily 
arrive (contrary to our expectations), we shall, through necessity, in order to save the lives of 
those who remain, be obliged to betake ourselves to the English at the East, who would like 
nothing better than to possess this place. And that an account of the superior convenience of 
sea coasts, bays, and large rivers, besides the great fertility of this place: yea, which alone 
could of itself provision and supply yearly 20, 25(3l30 ships from Brazil or the West Indies 
with all necessaries. 

(Was underwritten :) Remaining, as we are, your High Mightinesses' faithful servants and 
subjects, lawfully chosen and authorized by the Hon ble Director and Council and the entire 
Commonalty of New Netherland, 

(Signed) Coornelis Melyn, Jan Evertse Boudt, 

Tomas Hal, Gerrit Wolphertse, 

Isak Allerton, Barent Dirckse, 

Abraham Pieterse, Jochem Pieterse Kuyter. 

Dated Manahatan, in New Netherland, this 3 d November, 1643 ; Stil : Rom°. 

This is found, on collating, to agree with the Minute. 

(Signed) Cornelis van Tienhoven, Sec r . 



Resolution of the States General referring the preceding Memorial. 

[ From the Register of West India Affairs, 1633—1651, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Tuesday, 5 April, 1644. 
Foiio us. Read in the Assembly a certain Remonstrance presented to their High 

Commonalty of New „_.., .. , , , ip /■ i •/-, i pm 

Netherland. Mightinesses in the name and on behalt ot the entire Commonalty of New 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: II. 141 

Netherland, containing divers complaints respecting the inconveniences to which they are there 
exposed. Whereupon, deliberation being had, it is resolved and concluded, that copy of the 
aforesaid Remonstrance be sent to the Assembly of the XIX. of the West India Company, so 
that prompt order may be taken on said Complaints, and for the removal of the aforesaid 
inconveniences. 

[ Here follows a fragment of the letter of the States General to the Assembly of the XIX, transmitting the foregoing 
Resolution, but it is, for the most part, unintelligible. — Ed.] 



Amsterdam Chamber of the West India Company to the States General. 

[ From the Original in the Royal Archives at the Htgue. File, Went Indie. ] 

High and Mighty Lords. 

Your High Mightinesses' letter dated the 5 th April, is duly come to hand. Though addressed 
to the Assembly of the XIX., we have opened it here at our private meeting, and read it with 
particularly grateful acceptance, in regard of your High Mightinesses' paternal and gracious 
care for the wretched Commonalty of New Netherland; we have also attentively examined the 
petition of the said Commonalty presented to your High Mightinesses. We have resolved, to 
write to your High Mightinesses in answer to the one and the other, that jointly and 
individually, we sensibly feel in the inmost recesses of our hearts, the miserable and desolate 
condition of the poor people there, the rather as we find ourselves in such inability that we 
not only cannot supply the requisite means to bring this Colony, which is a source of so much 
expense for the West India Company, to such a state that we might in time realize the long 
looked for fruits thereof; but cannot, at present, even furnish those poor people who have left 
their Fatherland, in the hope of obtaining, with their wives and children in that country, an 
honest livelihood, with such supplies as are most urgently required for their support and 
protection against the barbarous inhabitants of those parts. And we are truly of opinion that 
greater and greater difficulties are to be expected from long delays. In order [to prevent] 
which, as well in New Netherland as in other distant places where the Company, and 
consequently this State, have to fear no less dangers, through the scarcity of divers required 
necessary provisions, ammunition, goods, &c, we are obliged respectfully to submit to your High 
Mightinesses, that the Company is fallen into both such inability and discredit that it is out of 
its power, any longer, without considerable aid from the State, to supply any distant places, 
or to continue any further the necessary daily payments in this country. We most humbly 
request Your High Mightinesses, therefore, to be pleased to take these untoward circumstances 
into such consideration as the constitution of the Company for the welfare of this State 
most seriously demands. 

High and Mighty Lords, let not the good and willing stockholders who have contributed 
such large subscriptions for the advancement of the prosperity of this State, and have already 
provisionally adopted an effectual and advantageous resolution with the East India Company; 
let them not be discouraged or dismayed in contributing to such a beneficial work as the 
combination of these two notable Companies would prove for this State. The vigorous 



142 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

continuance of the Company's maritime affairs, and at least of its daily occurring disbursements 
here, would contribute a little to that [prosperity]; and with an immediate grant of about a 
million, it can be placed in good, prosperous and profitable condition. We also respectfully 
request you, High and Mighty, to be pleased to receive further information from our Deputies, 
who will present this to your High Mightinesses, and therein to vouchsafe them favorable 
audience and full credit. Thereupon awaiting your High Mightinesses' favorable resolution, 
which is most necessary, we shall meanwhile, High and Mighty Lords, pray God for the 
continual success of your High Mightinesses' prosperous government. 

Your High Mightinesses most humble Servants, 

The Directors of the West India Company at Amsterdam, 

Amsterdam, this 23 April, 1644. (Signed) Jacob Hamel. 

Received 27 lb April, 1644. Marcus de Vogelaer. 



Resolution of the States General, referring the preceding Letter. 

[ From the Register of West India affairs, 1088 — 1651, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Wednesday, 27 April 1644. 
Foiio no. Appeared in the Assembly some Directors from divers Chambers of the West 

co e mpan 8 y S . fr ° m ' he India Company, and by the mouth of one of the Advocates of said Company 
proposed to their High Mightinesses, and subsequently submitted in writing, what is 
Proposal. substantially set forth in the proposition hereinafter inserted. And the aforesaid 

Directors also delivered, besides, to their High Mightinesses a certain letter from the Directors 
of the abovenamed West India Company, Chamber at Amsterdam, written there the 23 d 
instant, being an answer to their High Mightinesses' despatch of the 5 tb of the present month, 
AtfairsofNew respecting the affairs of New Netherland ; which being considered, the Provinces 
desired copy of the aforesaid proposition, as well as of the said letter which was 
granted them. 



Report of the Deputies from the States General to the Assembly of the XIX. 

[ From the Original in the Royal Archives at the Hague ; File, West Indie. ] 

Extract of the Report of Henrick van der Capelle toe Ryssel, Daniel Hoogendorp 
Gaio Nauta, Gerrit van Santen, their High Mightinesses' deputies to the 
Assembly of the XIX. of the West India Company at Amsterdam in April, 
]644. Exhibited 1 st October, 1644. 

High and Mighty Lords. 

The deputies to this Assembly have found great discord and mutual distrust prevailing 
among the Chambers; and the Brazils with the coasts of Guinea, Angola, etc., were in 
consequence, not provided with what those coasts required for support and trade for this State. 

Those from Zealand, etc. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: II. 143 

Mr. Spieringh to the States General. 

[ From the Original In the Royal Archives at the Hague: File, Duitschland. ] 

High and Mighty Lords. * 

Whereas her Royal Majesty's ship, the Fame, coming from Nova Succia, her Royal Majesty's 
possession, freighted with some peltries and tobacco, has arrived in this country, and I, desiring 
to have said freight discharged here, gave notice, in the ordinary course of trade, of said cargo 
at the customs through my agent at Amsterdam, who applied for a permit to unload ; but this 
was refused him, and he was referred from there to the West India Company ; this astonished 
me not a little, as I do not know wherefore he is referred from one to the other when the 
customs and duties thereof are offered to be paid. Therefore I would hereby request your High 
Mightinesses to be pleased to give such orders and instruction to whomsoever has charge and 
authority over the customs and duties that they will no longer refuse to allow this her Royal 
Majesty's ship to be unloaded and discharged in due course of trade, but that such be done 
without hindrance, lest the perishable goods remain on board to their damage ; expecting 
which speedily from your High Mightinesses, 

I wish you from Almighty God a prosperous government, remaining 

High and Mighty Lords, 

Your High Mightinesses' 

Friend and dutiful 
Hague, 8 th October, 1644. (Signed) Peter Spieringh Silvercroen, 

hereditary Proprietor of North Holm. 
[op Norshollem afges(tten.~\ 



Resolution of the States General on a further Memorial of the Swedish Resident. 

[ From the Register of Resolutions relating to "West India affairs in the Royal Archives at the Ilague. ] 

Saturday, 15 ,h October, 1644. 
The shipFa'me. Read to the Assembly a certain additional Memorial presented to their High 

duiVan'd's'pe'r'cent.' Mightinessses by and on behalf of Resident Spieringh, stating in substance, that 
he hath seen that their High Mightnesses have been pleased to resolve that copy of his 
previous Memorial to their High Mightinesses, presented the 8 lh instant, respecting the 
discharging her Royal Majesty's ship the Fame, be referred to the present delegated Directors 
of the West India Company, in order to furnish their High Mightinesses, at their earliest 
convenience, with information regarding this affair. Mr. Spieringh being now aware of the 
object of this reference, which can no otherwise be interpreted than as tending to the disrespect 
and disparagement of her Royal Majesty, cannot therefore accept such resolution nor send it 
it to her Royal Majesty (unless on refusal of any other) as it will surprise her to learn that a 
remonstrance from one Sovereign to another should be referred to private individuals, or to a 
private Company or Board, or whatever else it may be called, totally unknown, in these 
premises, to her Royal Majesty. Their High Mightinesses have placed Mr. Spieringh's aforesaid 



X44 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Memorial in the hands of such as they pleased, but he expects an answer and resolution from 
none but their High Mightinesses; and that speedily, according to the urgency of the case, in 
order to discharge the aforesaid ship, after satisfying the customs, according to the usage of 
trade in regard to other foreign independent sovereigns ; or that their High Mightinesses will 
be pleased to communicate to him the reasons why he has been detained ; referred from one 
to the other to the serious damage of the perishable wares which are lying on ship board, and 
of others now bearing a high price. Which being considered, it is resolved and concluded, 
that the cargo of the said ship the Fame shall be regulated as regards the duties, in the same 
way as those of the French, English, Danish and other foreign nations that bring and 
discharge such or similar cargoes here ; to wit, the ordinary import duties, and in addition 
eight per cent, both made over among other things to the West India Company of these ports, 
in place of subsidies; all in conformity to the S th Article of their High Mightinesses' regulation 
of the 16 ,b October, 1637, and their confirmatory resolution of the 24 ,h July 1641 following 
thereupon. 



-♦.■ » .. «. 



Resolution of the States General on a letter from the Patroon of Staten Island. 

[ From the Register of West India Affairs, 163S— 1661, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Thursday, 20 ,h October, 1644. 
Folio Mi. The letter of Cornells Melyn, styling himself Patroon at Staten Island, without 

Melyn. ' J ° . .... 

staten island. date or place, addressed to Mr. van Nederhorst ; also, a certain petition of the 

same, dated Manahattas, 6 th August last, regarding the distressed condition of affairs there, is, 
after previous consideration, placed in the hands of Messrs. van der Capellen, and other their 
High Mightinesses' Deputies to the Assembly of the XIX. of the West India Company, with 
power to inform themselves of, and investigate the real merits and state of the aforesaid 
representation, and afterwards assist in making such order therein as the interests of the 
country in general, and those of the said Company in particular, shall require. 



Resolution of the Slates General to inquire into the affairs of New Netherland. 

[ From the Register of West India Affairs, 1639—1651, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Saturday, 22 October, 1644. 
Foiio i8i. Messrs. van der Capelle tho Ryssel and other their High Mightinesses' Deputies 

semuVof'the xix! have represented to the Assembly that they have determined and resolved to 
Departure. proceed hence to Amsterdam on Monday next, in order to preside, by virtue 

of their High Mightinesses' Commission and authority, at the Assembly of the XIX. of the 
West India Company which will meet in the beginning of the next week, requesting to know 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: II. 145 

Abuses. if their High Mightinesses have any further commands for them ; which, being 

considered, their High Mightinesses wished the said Lords a favorable journey; recommended 
to them the interests of the Country in general and of the aforesaid West India Company in 
particular; and requested them to use all due diligence, to the end that the business mentioned 
in the report be accomplished, which the aforesaid, their High Mightinesses' Deputies, had 
made verbally on the lirst of this month, and afterwards delivered in writing; whereunto, for 
brevity sake, reference is had. Item, that generally all abuses and excesses at present prevailing 
be remedied and repaired, and specially that, pursuant to their High Mightinesses' resolution 
of the 20 ,h instant, they inform themselves and investigate the true circumstances and 
condition of the state of affairs in New Netherland, and assist in making such order as the interest 
of the Country in general and those of the above mentioned Company in particular shall 
require. Their High Mightinesses further deputed Mr. Viersen in the place of Mr. Nauta (in 
consequence of the latter's absence) to accompany and assist them in presiding in the aforesaid 
Assembly of the XIX. with and in addition to the aforesaid Mr. van der Capelle and others 
their High Mightinesses' deputies. 



Mr. Spieringh to the States General. 

[ From the Original in the Royal Archires at the Hague ; File, West Indie.] 

Mr. Peter Spiring Silvercroon, hereditary proprietor of North Holm, Councillor of Finance 
to her Royal Majesty of Sweden, and her Resident near your High Mightinesses, being, at his 
request, in conlerence on the 2G" 1 October with some of your High Mightinesses' Deputies, 
proposed that he, the Resident, be furnished with a copy of your High Mightinesses' resolution 
iof the 15 th October, in answer to the Memorial he presented relative to the discharging of her 
Majesty's Ship the Fame, which, coming from New Stvede?i, had run in to these parts; stating, in 
substance, that your High Mightinesses declared the cargo of the above named ship, the 
Fame, should be regulated in regard to duties, the same as the ships of the French, English, 
Danish and other foreign nations that bring and discharge such or similar loading here, to wit : 
the ordinary import duty, and in addition 8 percent, both made over, among other things, to the 
West India Company of this Country, in conformity to your High Mightinesses' resolution in 
this regard. To which, your High Mightinesses' resolution, he, the Resident, submitted, that 
whatever the French, English, Danish and other foreign nations gave or did not give, was not 
binding on him as he was suffering on his own merits and demerits, which remained unaffected 
and undiminished. Moreover, few or no such examples could be produced; and even if they 
were, they should not be obligations on her Royal Majesty, or even otherwise be drawn into 
precedent; that, on examination of their nature and circumstances, it might be found that 
such French, English and Danes were mere private persons, and then, still, mere inhabitants 
of these countries, who, in comparison with her Royal Majesty's ship, her Royal Majesty's 
property, could not come into any consideration or be cited as precedent; and with the same 
readiness that Frenchmen and Englishmen are instanced in opposition to her Royal Majesty 
can Swedes be equally cited against others. 
Vol. I. 19 



146 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Tlie proposition of your High Mightinesses' Deputies, that her Royal Majesty should pay 
the same as other inhabitants of these countries, the Resident would consider very strange, as 
an attempt to place a Sovereign and Crowned head on a level with inhabitants of this State ; 
the Resident expected greater respect would be paid her Royal Majesty than to place her on 
an equality with private individuals. If this State, either by its Ambassadors or others, had 
made or submitted any request to her Majesty, he, the Resident, was convinced that in such 
or like cases, it would be treated with much greater respect. Moreover, the aforesaid 
proposition was altogether different in character, inasmuch as its object was to impose subsidies 
and contributions on her Royal Majesty and thereby tax her for the benefit of some private 
inhabitants of this State; inasmuch as these duties were not contributed to the State, but to 
private persons who were simply authorized thereunto, and who were furnished by the State 
with a paper cloak; and therefore, if her Majesty is to be treated in all cases in the same 
manner as the inhabitants of these countries (none of whom is understood to be exempt), 
then her Royal Majesty must even so be released from such duty, or must be acknowledged, 
not only to be exempt from, but even must appropriate, such impost, the same as the West India 
Company, which consists merely of private individuals. Moreover, your High Mightinesses 
had no more right to declare that this her Royal Majesty's ship should pay duty to a West 
India Board, than to an East India or a Greenland Company, or any other set of individals, 
which would be without end; and levied and extorted with, certainly, as little justice. 

Regarding the 8 per cent in addition to the import duty : although he, the Resident, did not 
agree to it, he nevertheless proposed this question ; whether it had reference to the principal, 
the risk, the profit, the entire, or what else; also, if the valuation of the goods was to apply to 
the place where they were procured, here where they were bought, or there, where they would 
be consumed ; your High Mightinesses will be pleased to weigh all the points and justly to 
examine this case; and should the West India Company, according to its pleasure and 
resolution, increase the value and duty, your High Mightinesses will please to bear in mind, 
what, under similar circumstances, had heretofore occurred in Prussia, with her Roya! Majesty, 
in regard to the licenses, when your High Mightinesses' Ambassadors argued and maintained 
that her Royal Majesty could not levy any tolls there, notwithstanding her Royal Majesty had 
won those countries by the sword ; and had, moreover, in this instance, especial treaties in 
her favor. Although it was then pretended that no duty was imposed on the goods except 
according to the entry of the merchant and the place where they were loaded and purchased ; 
for if the goods were rated too high, her Royal Majesty must be obliged to take them at that 
appraisal, and add as much more thereto for the protection of the merchant; it will now, 
on the contrary, be claimed with indeed, less justice, that the West India Company is at 
liberty to value the goods as high as it chooses, taking the payment in money or in kind, when 
the best would be selected ; whereby all would be converted and drawn to its own profit. 
Besides, the West India Company could, with so much the less grace claim any duty, 
inasmuch as it had, heretofore, under grant from her Royal Majesty, a share in this Swedish 
Company, having also acknowledged it for an absolute and free Company; and, then, ships 
from the Kingdom, from New Sweden, having sailed and been loaded and discharged here, off 
and on, were never subjected to, much less paid such duty ; and hence, so far from there being 
any right and equity for such imposition, it ought, on the contrary, now to be considered in 
direct opposition to all right and equity, after the West India Company had surrendered its 
shares, and her Royal Majesty had bought it out and exclusively acquired those shares herself; 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: II. 147 

wherefore nothing similar could now be levied by virtue, and in regard of said purchase: And still 
so much the less so, inasmuch as this, her Royal Majesty's ship had traded to, and came from, 
a country which her Royal Majesty had rightfully purchased, and obtained possession of, from the right 
owners; where, previously, her Royal Majesty had found neither ships, commerce, nor trade, 
but had established them, and had erected her arms there, and thus had, first, reduced every 
thing to order; and, accordingly, no person there was a subject, nor could any duty reasonably 
or rightfully be claimed ; further, this Royal ship ran in here for no other purpose than solely 
will) the intention to revictual, and to sail to the Kingdom, when fully loaded, but in consequence 
of the trouble and war which has arisen between the Swedes and Danes, she must remain 
here, and is unable to complete her voyage because your High Mightinesses did not observe, 
according to the letter and meaning, the well established alliance, the purport of which was 
to maintain, against all force, reciprocally and on both sides, the freedom of navigation and 
commerce in the East and North seas; and because your High Mightinesses had acted so 
partially herein. 

Further, he the Resident had seen by a sealed Acte of the 13 lh October ( being your High 
Mightinesses' abovementioned resolution of the 15 th ) which was published by the West India 
Company, that the latter had, in quality of sovereign, presumed to place two of its people as 
keepers on board the Royal ship, and he therefore desires to know from your High Mightinesses, 
whether or not that was done by your High Mightinesses' order and knowledge; if not, if the 
West India Company could of its own authority, will and pleasure hostilely usurp such 
pretension, power and jurisdiction, it could not be considered other than an arrogance and 
insolence, disrespectful in the highest degree to her Royal Majesty ; if, indeed, it were done 
by order, and with the knowledge, of your High Mightinesses (which is scarcely credible) your 
High mightinesses will please to consider with what great respect your High Mightinesses' 
ships have ever been treated in her Royal Majesty's kingdom and within her jurisdiction ; and 
that her Royal Majesty never expected different treatment from your High Mightinesses; that 
the ships which had heretofore conveyed your High Mightinesses' Ambassadors to Prussia were 
not once inspected, nor detained, nor any people placed on board of them, although they 
were laden with merchandise; that even the ships, which went to fetch, or bring, the 
Ambassadors back, were not examined ; such ships and goods were also passed free as 
the Ambassadors on their voyage requested ; and that from no other motive or view, than simply 
out of the respect entertained for your High Mightinesses' Ambassadors and this State; contrary 
to which, this disrespect is now exhibited towards this her Royal Majesty's ship, carrying only 
royal freight. But should your High Mightiness entertain no such regard, he, the Resident 
nevertheless requests, that those two persons may be again removed from the vessel, so that no 
further inconvenience or mischief may accrue to her Majesty's dignity from such prejudicial 
acts and hostilities of which, by this remonstrance, he, the Resident, will then be blameless; 
and as a further security that no fraud shall be committed on the cargo, he, the Resident, as 
her Majesty's Minister, assures your High Mightinesses that a list thereof shall be delivered in, 
if your High Mightinesses require it. Provided, nevertheless, in all things that he the Resident, 
be not understood as paying any, even the smallest duty from this her Royal Majesty's 
ship, as well for reasons above recited, as because it is prejudicial to her Majesty's dignity; 
contrary to the alliance and opposed to the intimacy and friendship which were therein to 
continue between her Royal Majesty and your High Mightinesses ; and therefore expects from 



148 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

your High Mightinesses a resolution and good conclusion on this, his Remonstrance. Wishing 
you from God Almighty a long and prosperous government. 

(Signed) Peter Spieringh Silvercroon, 

Done at the Hague on the above day A , 1644. hereditary Proprietor of North Holm. 

Exhibited 29 October, 1644. 



Report of their Deputies of the States General on New Netherland. 

[ From the Original in the Royal Archives, at the Hague ; File, West /Tidische Cvmpagme. ] 

Extract of the Report of Henrick van der Capellen toe Ryssell, Viersen, Gerrit 
van Santen their High Mightinesses' late Deputies to the Assembly of the 
West India Company at Amsterdam, holden in October 1644. Exhibited 
28 th December 1644. 

High and Mighty Lords, 

The delegates did, on the ff October etc. 
in New Nethenand. We repeatedly brought before the Assembly the complaint which was made to 
your High Mightinesses respecting the cruel massacre perpetrated on the Indians, so that it 
may be provided against, and the punishment for blood unlawfully shed, may be warded off 
this State. And it was finally resolved, that all papers relating to this matter, be placed in the 
hands of the Board of Accounts (Rckcn kamer) to extract therefrom, by the next Assembly, 
what ought to be redressed, as is to be seen, No. 7. It was moreover resolved, to recall the 
Director in order that he defend himself, and to send back in his stead with a temporary 
commission, Lubbert van Dinslaken who has been formerly there as fiscal, and who is a favorite 
with the Indians. 

Minerals of copper, iron and lead have been discovered in those countries, particulars of 
which are given to this Director, to inform himself thereof, and to send hither the real ore to 
be tested. A private individual has brought with him copper ore that is very rich, and hath 
also some silver in it; orders have been given to test and investigate it further. 

Appendix No. 7. Extract from the Minutes of the Nineteen. Received 2Sth December, 1644. 

15 December, 1644. 
Pursuant to their High Mightinesses' order, Mess" van der Capellen toe Ryssel and van 
Santen, informed the Assembly that they had repeatedly requested that the business respecting 
New Netherland may be dispatched, which not being done, they had spoken this morning to 
the Commissioners thereunto named on the 10 th December last, and were of opinion that the 
papers and documents having reference to New Netherland, should be placed in the hands of 
the Company's Board of Accounts, to examine the whole subject, to draw up a report and to 
submit to the Assembly their opinion, how the decay there shall be remedied ; the population 
increased; agriculture advanced, and that country thoroughly improved for the advantage of 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS : II. 149 

the Company, with authority ; that in the meanwhile this Assembly, on its part, shall represent 
to the Amsterdam Chamber, what persons, in addition to the Director, ought to be recalled ; 
and that Lubbertus van Dincklagen, may be provisionally sent thither in the said Director's 
place, with such order and instruction as they shall judge to be provisionally for the best 
advantage of affairs there. 

Whereupon question being put, the Deputies from Amsterdam declared, relative to the 
examination of the matter, and the same to serve for advice, that they would agree to the 
proposition, but could not vote to the prejudice of their Chamber; and regarding the person, 
Dincklagen, they will endeavor to make him acceptable to their Chamber. Then the members 
confirmed the proposition, and consent that Dincklagen shall be furnished with provisional 
commission as Director. 



< 'i»n> 



Report of (lie Board of Accounts on New Netlierland. 1644. 

[ From a MS. in the Royal Archives at the Hague ; in the Lokrtkas of the States General ; Kubric, Went Tndische C&inpagnie, No 30. 1st Division.] 

Report and Advice on the Condition of New Netherland, drawn up from 
documents and papers placed by commission of the Assembly of the XIX., 
dated 15 th Dec r 1644, in the hands of the General Board of Accounts, to 
examine the same, to make a digest thereof, and to advise the Assembly 
how the decay there can be prevented, population increased, agriculture 
advanced, and that country wholly improved for the Company's benefit. 

New Netherland, situate in America, between English Virginia and New England, 
extending from the South river, lying in 34J degrees, to Cape Malabar, in the latitude of 41*V 
degrees, was first frequented by the inhabitants of this country in the year 159S, and especially 
by those of the Greenland Company, but without making any fixed settlements, only as a 
shelter in the winter. For which purpose they erected on the North and South Rivers there, 
two little forts against the incursions of the Indians. A charter was afterwards, on the 11 th 
October, 1614, granted by their High Mightinesses to Gerrit Jacobsz. Witsen, antient 
burgomaster of the city of Amsterdam, Jonas Witsz, Symon Morrisen, Lambert van 
Tweenhuyzen, Wessel Schenck and associates, all inhabitants of these parts, to trade 
exclusively to the newly discovered countries, situate in America, between New France and 
Virginia, and now called New Netherland, to resort thither exclusively for the term of 
three years, without any other persons being able, during that time, to frequent that place 
from this country, on pain of confiscation of ships and goods, and a fine of fifty thousand 
Netherland ducats. 

In the years 1622 and 1623, the West India Company took possession, by virtue of their 
charter, of the said country, and conveyed thither, in their ship, the New Netherland, divers 
Colonists under the direction of Cornells Jacobsz. Mey, and Adriaen Jorissz. Tienpoint, which 
Directors, in the year 1624, built Fort Orange on the North River, and Fort Nassau on the 
South River, and after that, in 1626, Fort Amsterdam on the Manhattes. In all which, 
garrisons were continually maintained, and trade was carried on in those several districts with 



150 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

yachts, sloops and other craft. And in the year 1629, the Freedoms and Exemptions conceded 
hy the Hon ble Assembly of the XiX. were published, with their High Mightinesses' approbation. 
Thereupon divers Patroons and Colonists resorted thither and endeavored to advance 
agriculture and population. For further security, Fort Good Hope was also erected in 1633, 
on the Fresh river. But said population did not experience any special impulse until the 
year 1639, when the Fur trade with the Indians, which had been previously reserved to 
the Company, was thrown free and open to every body; at which time not only the inhabitants 
there residing spread themselves far and wide, but even new Colonists came thither 
from Fatherland; and the neighboring English, both from Virginia and New England repaired 
to us. So that in place of seven Bouweries, full thirty were planted and full one hundred 
more expected in a short time from the plantations which were taken up ; insomuch that there 
was every appearance that provisions might be furnished in two or three years for ten 
thousand men. 

Although the hope was now entertained that the country would by such means arrive at a 
nourishing pass, yet it afterwards appeared that the abuses attendant on the free trade was the 
cause of its ruin — 

First: because the Colonists, each with a view to advance his own interest, separated 
themselves from one another, and settled far in the interior of the Country, the better to trade 
with the Indians, whom they then sought to allure to their houses by excessive familiarity and 
treating. By this course they brought themselves into disrepute with the Indians, who, not 
having been always treated alike, made this the cause of enmity. 

Secondly: in consequence of the proximity to the Indians, whose lands lay unfenced, the 
cattle belonging to our people, straying without herdsmen, seriously damaged their corn or 
maize. This occasioned much complaint, and no redress following, they revenged themselves, 
killing both the cattle and horses. 

Thirdly: not only the Colonists, but also the free traders proceeding from this country, sold 
for furs in consequence of the great profit, fire-arms to the Mohawks for full 400 men, with 
powder and lead ; which, being refused to the other tribes when demanded, increased the 
hatred and enmity of the latter. 

Fourthly: It happened, in addition to this, that the Director had, a few years after, imposed 
a contribution of maize on the Indians, whereby they were totally estranged from our people. 

Hence arose divers threats and injurious occurrences, which finally broke out into acts of 
hostility, so that, first : the Raritan Indians attempted to make away with one of our sloops, 
and afterwards killed some hogs on Staten Island. Whereupon the Director dispatched eighty 
soldiers thither to avenge the act, who burnt their corn and killed three or four of their people. 
Both sides then desisted from further proceedings. 

Next it happened that a Wechquaeskeck Indian 1 murdered, about the year 1640, an old 
man in his own house with an axe, for which no satisfaction having been afforded by the tribe, 
12 men, chosen from the Commonalty, afterwards resolved, in the year 1642, to revenge the 
murder by open war ; but nothing was done at that time in consequence of missing the enemy, 
who, observing what was designed against them, sued for peace. 

Some time afterwards the Hackingsack Indians designedly shot, with an arrow, a Dutchman, 
who sat thatching a house. The Commonalty were very much troubled at this, dreading the 

1 A Westchester tribe. — Ed. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: II. 151 

recurrence of other such acts. And while the Director was seeking in vain for satisfaction, 
God seemed to have taken vengeance on those of Witqueschack, through the Mahikan 
Indians, who surprizing, slew full 70 of them and led many women and children away into 
captivity. This obliged the remainder to fly to our people at the Manhattans, where they 
were received into the houses, and fed by the Director during fourteen days. Shortly after 
this, seized with another panic, they tied with the Hackingsacx, fully a thousand strong, to the 
vicinity of the fort, and over the river of Povonia. Some of the 12 men perceiving this, 
the Director, on the petition of three of them, namely, Jan Janse Damen, Abraham Plangh and 
Maryn Adriaense who signed in the name of the entire body, authorized an attack on the 
abovementioned Indians, in the course of the night between the 27 ,h and 2S tb of February, 1643, 
by a party of soldiers and burghers, who, with cruel tyranny, slew 80 of them, and took 30 
prisoners. And although the Commonalty protested against the Director and the aforesaid 
three persons, on account of these hasty and severe proceedings, as having taken place without 
their knowledge or consent, they were obliged, notwithstanding, to declare open war against 
full eleven tribes of Indians, who rose in arms on that account. The consequence was, that 
about one thousand of these, and many soldiers and colonists belonging to us, were killed. 
Almost all the bouweries were also destroyed, so that only three remained on the Manhattes, 
and two on Staten Island, and the greater part of the cattle were destroyed. Whatever 
remained of these, had to be kept in a very small enclosure, except in Rensselaers Colonie, 
lying on the North river, in the neighborhood of Fort Orange, which experienced no trouble 
and enjoyed peace, because they continued to sell fire arms and powder to the Indians even 
during the war against our people. 

The Company thus experienced the greatest destruction and damage, as well by the 
consumption of their ammunition and the ready money expended in purchasing this at a high 
rate, as by reinforcing the garrison, by the enlisting of as many Englishmen as could be hired 
in that country; fifty of whom the Colonists solemnly engaged to pay, but the payment not 
having followed, remained as a charge upon the Company. Those indebted to the Company 
were hereby finally reduced to such a state that they had no means to pay their debts. 

To remedy this great decay, various suggestions were made by the Director and 
the Commonalty. 

First, that to restore peace and quiet throughout the land, the Indians who had waged war 
against us, should be wholly destroyed and exterminated. The Director demanded, for that 
purpose, one hundred and fifty soldiers, armed with muskets and coats of mail, and provided 
with sufficient munitions of war; inasmuch as he estimated the number of the Indians, our 
enemies, not to be above three hundred strong. The Commonalty, maintaining that they were 
some thousands strong, considered the accomplishment of such a proposal impossible; they 
were of opinion that it would be better to secure public tranquillity by a general peace. 
They have little hope of this, so long as the present rulers remain there; because the Indians 
are in no way to be pacified (as they themselves declare to our's) until the Director is removed 
thence, calling daily for Wouter, VVouter — meaning Wouter van Twiiler. 

Secondly, in order to prevent war in future, the Colonists ought to settle nearer each other, on 
suitable places, with a view of being thus formed into villages and towns, to be the better 
able to protect each other in time of need. Being separated from the Natives, will prevent 
the cattle damaging the corn belonging to the Indians, which, added to excessive familiarity 
in associating with them, was the cause of many difficulties. The employment of Indians as 
domestic servants will, thus, also be put an end to. 



152 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Thirdly, for better security against enemies, and to ensure respect from neighbors, it would 
be advisable immediately to construct Fort Amsterdam of stone; for it is now in such ruin that 
men pass into it, over the walls, without making use of the gate; this, according to the 
calculation of the Director, would cost only 20 to 25 thousand guilders. 

Fourthly, the settlement of the boundaries between the English and our people by the Crown 
of England and this State., ought to be urged in every way, in order to prevent all difficulties 
with that nation, inasmuch as they have begun, since the year 1633, to usurp the Fresh River, 
notwithstanding the Company had previously taken entire possession of it; and, on the S ,h 
June, Anno 1G33 (before any Englishmen had ever been on, or near that river) purchased 
land from the Indians twenty miles up the same, and built fort Good Hope thereupon and kept 
possession thereof with our people. After which time, namely, on 10 lh September, the English 
first arrived from New Plaimouth and Math uses bay, before that fort, and declared that they 
wished to erect a lodge three miles above it; which the Commissary residing" there, opposed 
as long as he could; but was necessitated to permit it under protest, according to instructions. 
Meanwhile, divers letters, protests and notices were exchanged between their Governor and 
our Director. And it finally came to pass that they came, in the year 1635 and 1636, up the 
aforesaid river with sundry families and cattle; settling themselves down there, far and near; 
even on the land situate around and by our fort, and the property of which belonged to us. 
Which land they have parcelled among themselves, endeavoring to prescribe unto us laws; 
because, having built a house or two at the mouth of the river, they pretend thereby to have 
the key thereof. 

Fifthly, it would be advisable, for the benefit of that country, first of all, to facilitate 
emigration to New Netherland, as had been done a long time since ; or at least to credit the 
passengers for a time, in order to allure Colonists thither, and afterward to introduce a goodly 
portion of farm servants and negroes into that country. By whose labor, agriculture would 
be so much promoted, that a great quantity of provisions could be exported thence to Brazil. 

Sixthly, the rendezvous of vessels of war could be established in New Netherland, and it is 
better adapted than the Island of Curasao, in consequence of its abundance of provisions and of 
building timber, and because all parts of the West Indies are safer and easier of access from 
that quarter, and the designs against the enemy can be kept better concealed. 

Seventhly, it would be advantageous for the Company to keep a well supplied store and cellar 
there, in order to accommodate the inhabitants, at a certain reasonable price, either for money 
or produce, which will otherwise be overvalued or monopolized by private traders. But if 
private individuals are allowed to continue trading, a fixed price ought to be placed on their 
imported wares. The system of giving credit ought also be abolished, as the Company suffers 
great loss therefrom, and their servants ought to be promptly paid their board money and 
monthly wages. 

Finally, 'tis proposed that the Council consist of four or five persons for the maintenance of 
justice and the authority of the Company, as well as the respect of the neighboring Colonies. 

From all this, it is to be seen into what confusion and ruin New Netherland has at present 
fallen, all caused by the rash undertaking of so unnecessary a war, without the knowledge, 
much less the order of the XIX., and against the will of the Commonalty there ; and what 
excessive expenditure is now required from the Company, both for succor and redress; no 
apparent profits can be expected there for some years; but, on the contrary, it is found from 
the Company's books in the Amsterdam Chamber, that the district of New Netherland, instead 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: II. 153 

of being a source of profit, has cost the Company, from the year 1G2G to the year 1G44 
inclusive, over 550,000 guilders, deducting the returns received therefrom. It would, therefore, 
be worth considering if it would not be better for the Company, by abandoning New 
Netherland, to rid itself of such heavy expenses altogether, than by retaining it to 
continue them. 

But inasmuch as the Company has, by its conceded Freedoms, promised to take all Colonists, 
as well freemen as servants, under its protection, and to aid in defending them against all 
foreign and domestic wars; and as the improvement of affairs by good orders from here, and 
better government there, is not altogether hopeless; so that this place may Le preserved, in the 
first instance, with small profits, or at least without loss; we are, therefore, of opinion, under 
correction, that the Company cannot decently or consistently abandon it. 

With a view to come at such orders and redress, we submit to the Honorable Assembly the 
following points : — 

Boundary. First the boundary : An agreement ought speedily, and first of all, be made 

with the English hereupon, as it is found that, in consequence of their great population, 
they daily encroach more and more on our territory. That being fixed, it ought to be 
conditioned, that the English who may find themselves within our district, or should desire to 
come into it, shall be amenable to our government and acknowledged only as original subjects. 
Kecrniciiiaiion with Secondly: the country ought, in every respect, be again reduced to peace and 
quietness, and the advice of the present Director, utterly to exterminate all 
enemies by force, be, by no means, adopted ; not only because it is impossible and 
unchristianlike so to do, but it would not be advantageous to the Company to incur so great 
an expense as it requires on so uncertain a result and so small an appearance of profit. And, 
therefore, they should not deem it impolitic to adopt the advice of the Commonalty, and to 
endeavor, by all possible means, to conciliate and to satisfy the Indians by recalling the Director 
and Council, who are responsible for that bloody proceeding of the 2S ,h February, 1G43. that 
they may justify and vindicate their government before the Hon ble Assembly of the XIX., in 
whose stead a person ought to be sent thither as Director, endowed with sufficient qualities to 
promote, on the one side, the interests of the Company and the welfare of the Commonalty, and 
to maintain, on the other, good correspondence with the neighboring people, and especially 
with the Indians. 

settlement of coto- Thirdly: it would be advisable to carry out and put into practice the plan of 
■data together. tne Dj rectorj already alluded to, that the Colonists should settle, a certain 

number of families together, on some of the most suitable places, in the form of hamlets, towns 
and villages, as the English are wont to do, who thereby live more securely ; and such was the 
Company's intention in the granting of the printed Freedoms and amplification thereof. 
Eipair or the r»rt Fourthly: it will, first of all, be necessary to hasten the repair of fort Amsterdam. 
And we are of opinion that this will be effected in a proper and in the cheapest manner, with 
good clay and firm sods. The soldiers, by some presents, could be encouraged thereunto and 
obliged to keep it, for the future, in good repair. The Director ought to be particularly 
commanded to pay strict attention thereto. 

Establishment. Fifthly: we are of opinion, under correction, that for the security of the aforesaid 

fort, and of such other place as might require it, the persons specified in the annexed list 
would be sulhcient, on such allowances as are thereunto adjoined. Superadding, that the 

Vol. I. 20 



15 4 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Colonists and their servants should, under certain penalties, be obliged to provide themselves 
with good firelocks and other weapons for their own defence. Also, for the purpose of securing 
themselves, in time of need, with the assistance of the garrison, against a general attack, 
without the Director, Colonists, or any person whatsoever, having the power to enlist any 
soldiers, be they few or many, at the Company's expense. 

Government. Sixtlily : a Council ought be established there to consist of three persons, 

namely, the Director as President, the Vice and the Fiscal, as assistants. By which Council 
shall be treated and decided all cases relating to the police, justice, dignity and rights of the 
Company. With this understanding, however, that in criminal cases the Commander shall 
take the place of the Fiscal, with the addition, also, of two capable members of the 
Commonalty. Further, as the respective Colonies are allowed by the 28 ,h article of 
the Freedoms to delegate one or two persons to report their state and condition to the Director 
and Council, at least once a year, so are we of opinion that the said delegates should, moreover, 
assemble every six months, at the summons of the Director and Council, for mutual good 
understanding and the general advancement of the public welfare, to aid in advising them, 
besides, upon all affairs relating to the prosperity of their Colonies, the conciliation of the 
Indians and neighbors, the maintenance of the Freedoms and Privileges, the removal of all 
abuse* and the support of the laws and statutes. Also, to observe that the Amsterdam 
measure, ell and weight shall be used throughout the entire country. 

population and ag- Seventhly: Particular provision must be made for the vigorous encouragement 
ricuiture. Q j- t | ie p p U ] a LJ on an( j cultivation of the soil. It will be promoting this object 

to afford as many facilities as possible to emigrating Colonists and freemen, who are inclined to 
go thither ; and to cause them to settle down first on the Island of Manhattes. Allowing 
them as much land as they will be able to cultivate, whether in raising tobacco, whereunto 
that Island, on account of its great fertility, is considered well adapted ; or grain and other 
crops from which they will expect to derive the greatest profit. 

And for the advancement of the cultivation of the land there, it would not be unwise to 
allow, at the request of the Patroons, Colonists and other farmers, the introduction, from 
Brazil there, of as many Negroes as they would be disposed to pay for at a fair price; which 
Negroes would accomplish more work for their masters, and at a less expense, than farm 
servants, who must be bribed to go thither by a great deal of money and promises. 
Trade - Eighthli/: in order to encourage population still more, we would advise that it 

were best to confine the trade with the Indians exclusively to the Patroons, Colonists and free 
people who reside there, without permitting any commission merchants (commissie vaerdcrs) to 
traffic in any manner with the Indians ; but to be satisfied with the exchange of their cargoes 
for the peltries, tobacco, wheat and other country produce of the free inhabitants. 

But it should be absolutely forbidden that either freemen should sell to the Indians, or 
commission merchants to freemen, any arms or munitions of war, on a certain heavy penalty 
to be thereunto enacted, lest the Indians, deriving strength from such a trade, may, in course 
of time, be encouraged to do us more harm than they can now, in their impotency, inflict. 
But it will suffice that each of the free inhabitants shall be provided with a good gun and side 
arms, for self-defence, as hereinbefore laid down in the 5 lh point ; which arms ought to be 
inspected by the Director every six months. 

And for the greater encouragement of the good people of New Netherland, it is submitted 
that the Hon ble Assembly take into consideration whether it would not tend to the advantage 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: II. 155 

of those possessions to allow all resident Patroons and Colonists to export their produce to 
Brazil, under proper duty and toll, as flour, oatmeal, peas, beans, pipe staves, planks, square 
and other timber, fit for the building of ships and houses, abound there. Also, for the 
encouragement of the fisheries there, that they and none other be allowed to sell at the Recief, 1 
the fish and caviare which are caught, cured and packed in that country. And that those of 
New Netherland shall also be permitted to take salt on the coast of Brazil, in the vicinity 
of Siara, or in the West Indies, for the purposed salting green or dry fish. Also to erect pans 
in New Netherland to refine salt, and adapt it for use with fish and meat, as fine salt. And on 
arriving in Brazil, they shall be bound to deliver every thing into the Company's store, and 
on payment of the proper duty and toll, whether in money or kind, to dispose of the same; 
without exporting any money thence, but taking, as a return cargo, staves, sugar, confectionary, 
ginger, tobacco, cotton and other produce of the country, with proper entries thereof, both as 
to quality and quantity; and therewith to sail direct to New Netherland, without touching at 
any port on the way, to sell or barter any part thereof, under any pretence whatsoever. 
Wherefore they should receive a supercargo on the part of the Company to make a report of 
the whole to it, and to return in the next ship from New Netherland to Brazil. And for the 
prevention of all further smuggling, the skippers must be obligated, on pain of loss of the ship 
and cargo, to touch at Paraiba, after being inspected at the Recief, in order to be again visited 
there on the Company's behalf. 

Which trade being thus adjusted, it will not be necessary for the Company to be burdened 
with any further equipments or the purchase of cargoes; it will be, moreover, relieved from 
numerous servants required therefor. The garrison being to be rationed at their own expense, 
will be amply supplied for that purpose with necessaries by the freemen and inhabitants there. 

But in order to meet the expenses which the Company has to incur, for the support of the 
garrison and the other servants, it will be necessary to keep a sharp eye on the receipt of 
the duties, tolls and other dues, already imposed and yet to be imposed on the exported and 
imported goods. From which, we are of opinion, that the expenses to be incurred by the 
Company can be fully defrayed, with the hope of greater and more ample profit, by the increase 
of the population. 

Estimate of the expenses which the Company would have to bear in New 
Netherland for the following persons to be rationed at their own expense. 

1 Director, whose monthly salary should be fl. 250, to board himself, is yearly . fl. 3,000 

1 Second, and factor and receiver, at fl. 120 per month, as above, 1,440 

1 Fiscal, (a), fl. 60 per month, as above, 720 

1 Secretary, who is also to keep the book of monthly wages, per month fl.GO, 720 

1 Commissary of the merchandise and store goods (a), fl. 60 per month, 720 

1 Assistant of the merchandise and store goods, (a), fl. 25 per month, 300 

1 Clergyman, (fl fl. 120 per month, 1,440 

1 Schoolmaster, precentor and sexton, (& fl. 30, 360 

1 Gunner, @. 20, 240 

1 Provost or Marshal, (a. fl. 15, ISO 

1 Nearly south of the city of Pernambuco, between the river Bibiribe and the Bea, is a small tongue of land on which 
stood a village called the Reciffc, where all goods were shipped and discharged. De Laet. Verhael van West Indien, 191. 



156 NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

1 Corpnrnl, with n soldier to clean the arms, being also a smith, @.fl. 15 per month, fl. ISO 

1 Commander, (§, fl. 00 per month 7*20 

1 Ensign. (& fl. 45 540 

2 Serjeants, (a), fl. 25 each, 600 

2 Corporals, (a. fl. 18 each, 432 

1 Drummer, (a), fl. 13, 156 

4 Cadets, @. fl. 15 each 720 

40 Soldiers, (a. fl. 13 each, 6,240 

1 Surgeon lor the soldiers, (a fl. 2-3, 300 

1 Skipper on the sloop, (a fl. 25, 300 

4 Matrosses, (3. fl. 13 per month each, 621 

1 Boy, @. fl. 9 per month, 108 

6D persons, amount yearly to, fl. 20,040 

The mills there must be leased. 

These officers and servants would he sufficient for the business; and carpenters, masons, 
smiths and such like ought all to be discharged, and left to work for whomsoever will 
pay them. 



The States General to the Assembly of the XIX. 

[Fiom the Minute in the Iloyal Archives at the Hague ; File, West Indie. ] 

To the Assembly of the XIX. of the West India Company, the 21 st of April, 1645. 

The States, etc. 
Twoswe.iishsiiipp. The representations and complaint to us of Mr. Spieringh t/io Norsholm, the 
Queen of Sweden's resident here, relative to your proceedings in the matter of interfering with 
the cargo of the Royal ships the Calmer sleuid and Fnma, coming from Nova Suecia, a district 
in the possession of her Royal Majesty, which vessels ran in here and broke bulk, you will 
be able to see from the annexed papers, copies of the said Mr. Spieringh's memorial and of 
the pieces thereunto appended, this day presented to us, which we have hereby resolved to 
send to you, desiring and requesting that the said laden goods and merchandise of the aforesaid 
two ships, may be discharged without making any further difficulty therein; our previously 
repeated resolution and order remaining in force and effect, respecting the eight per cent in 
question, hereinbefore imposed and exacted on all other such wares and merchandise for the 
benefit of your Company. Whereupon, relying, etc. 
Done 21" of April, 1645. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: III. 157 

Report on the Proceedings of the Assembly of the XIX. 1645. 

[ From the Original in Ihe Royal Archives at the Hague ; File, West Indie. ] 

Summary Report. rendered by Mess" Van der Capellen toe Ryssel, Herbers and 
Nykerk, of the principal matters that occurred in the Assembly of the 
Nineteen, at Amsterdam, since March, 1645. Exhibited 12 ,h of July, 1645. 

1. Order was introduced last December, in the respective possessions of Brazil, Guinea, 
Angola, the island of St. Thomas, New Netherland, and answers thereto have been received 
by the ships which arrived in June, 1645. Every thing is, by God's blessing, in a good 
condition; and in consequence of the employment of the negroes, which were from time to 
time introduced from Angola into Brazil, in planting grain, flour is produced in such quantity 
that what used to always cost S to 10 guilders, still contintes to be sold at the low rate of six 
stivers, wherefore the Supreme Council now have written to send from here half as much flour 
as used heretofore to have been conveyed thither. 

2. Orders have been made by this Assembly for the aforesaid possessions of the Company; 
letters have now been sent over to the Directors in those countries on the subject. 

3. Propositions have been made by Directors and principal stockholders of the Amsterdam 
Chamber for the opening of the Angola trade to all, to which the other Chambers are 
strongly opposed. 

It was to be expected that this would create some difference between this- Amsterdam 
Chamber and the others, to the loss and discredit of the West India Company ; which was 
prevented by good reasons. 

The trade principally to Guinea and Angola, is the life of the Company ; and the ruin of the 
latter would follow the deduction or diminution thereof. 

The Company can neither exist or flourish without commerce ; even though all the public 
subsidies were promptly paid. 

The receipts herefrom still keep the Company alive, and furnish means for the equipments 
and cargoes for these and other coasts. 

4. At the request of your High Mightinesses' delegates, something has been proposed by the 
General Board of Accounts for the support of the Company ; namely, 10 c 63 M. guilders 
yearly ; out of which, they say, the six per cent per annum can be paid. 

The Chambers have taken the proposition with them in order to resolve thereupon at the 
next Assembly of the XIX., in Zealand. (No. 1.) 

5. Those responsible to the Company for the domains, provisions, ammunition, will not keep 
their accounts henceforward according to the Italian mode, but according to order; the public 
receivers and clerks shall account to the Council of state. 

6. Something has been done respecting the supreme government in Brazil, agreeably to the 
resolutions of the 14 ,h of December, 1644, and 14 lh of April, 1645, Nos. 2 and 3. 

Four Councillors have been nominated to the supreme government of Brazil ; but they have 
given in some considerations whereon they demand explanation. 

The nomination and proposing of the President also remain unsettled; all these, as well 
as the establishment of the Board of accounts in Brazil, and the departure of the delegates to 
the supreme government, will be arranged at the first meeting of the Assembly of the Nineteen, 
at Zealand. 



158 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

7. The promised subsidies of the state are most necessary for the support of the West India 
Company, in this its backward and feeble condition. 

The Company's shares had been down to 43 and 44, when your High Mightinesses first 
commenced the reform of its abuses in August, 1644. 

And when the Merchants and stockholders perceived the commencement of the reform, the 
shares advanced to 58. 

The opponents of the Company brought the shares down again ; namely, to 44 and 45, 
when your High Mightinesses extended, in May of this year, the Charters of the East and 
West India Companies ; these opponents misrepresenting and giving a false coloring to your 
High Mightinesses favor, by reporting at Amsterdam that your High Mightinesses will not 
contribute any more to the support of the West India Company ; that such was evident from 
the fact that your High Mightinesses had extended both Charters, notwithstanding the 
Directors of the West India Company had been so long at the Hague, soliciting the means 
of subsistence from your High Mightinesses. 

8. Some steps have been taken in New Netherland, to conciliate the Indians, by means of 
our forts and Colonies. The trade will now be open to all the Chambers in common ; and to all 
the inhabitants of the United Netherlands. Some proposals have been submitted to make use 
of Curasao for the improvement of the slave trade from Angola to Curacao. 

9. The Chambers intend to fit out some ships for the respective coasts; six to Brazil; two 
to Guinea, including the cargoes for St. Thomas; three to Angola; one or two to New 
Netherland ; and the Chambers have promised to complete the appointed rotations (touibcur/en), 
to the respective possessions, when your High Mightinesses assist them with a liberal portion 
of the promised subsidies. 

Vessels are expected from Brazil and the other coasts ; namely, seven from Brazil, one 
from Guinea. 

The Hague, the V J"'y. 1645. 

Extract of Ajipendix. Exhibited \2 th of July, 1645. 

Considerations of the General Chamber of Accounts, delivered in the 22 nd of 
June, 1645, to the Hon ble Assembly of the XIX. as to what might be saved 
yearly here as well as at Brazil and in the other of the Company's possessions. 

First: The Company should by reducing the Train bands in Brazil, etc. 
But the chiefest of all is the saving in the equipment of the ships, for if the Chambers retain 
for themselves only eighteen first class ships, being two for each \, and charter the remainder, 
a profit will be realized on each ship of at least 1200 guilders a month. 
The ships which are yearly required in the Company's possessions are, 

For Guinea, 4 

Argyn, Cape Verd, River Gambia, Sierra Leone and the Bight, 4 

St. Thomas, 2 

Loando, 12 

New Netherland and Curasao, 2 

Brazil, 24 

48 
Deduct ships retained, 18 

Remain ships to be chartered, 30 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: III. 159 

each of which, as above mentioned, will cost the Company 1200 guilders per month less than 
those they now fit out, and thus it will derive a profit, in the year, of fl. 432,000. 

With which, in our opinion, the six per cent might be yearly divided, or employed in the 
purchase of shares, in order to reduce the immense capital or to pay off some of the Company's 
liabilities. 

(Signed) Abraham Trouwers. 

and Gerrit Janssen de Vry. 



Mr. Spieringh to the States General. 

[ From the Original in the Royal Archives a» ihe Hague ; File, West Indie. ] 

High and Mighty Lords. 

On the 27 ,b instant I represented to your High Mightinesses that my factor at Harlingen 
was called on by the Board of Admiralty at that place to pay the import duties (convoy) on the 
freights of the royal ships the Calmerslculel and Fama, which I have already once paid to 
the West India Company at Amsterdam, as appears by the annexed authenticated copy, the 
original whereof remains with me; and as my said factor at Harlingen still remains impeded, 
and what has once been paid cannot again be craved, 1 have to request your High Mightinesses 
to be pleased to cause the said Board of Admiralty at Harlingen to be forthwith notified to 
desist from this or farther pretences, and not to give my factor any further trouble or 
inconvenience in this matter. Which expecting, _ 

I wish God Almighty to grant you a long and prosperous reign, remaining, 

High and Mighty Lords, 

Your High Mightinesses' affectionate 

The Hague, (Signed) Peter Spieringh Silvercroon, 

31 st of July, 1645. hereditary proprietor of North Holm. 

Copy. Appendix. Received 31 s ' of July, 1645. 

5 th of July, 1645, at Amsterdam. 

Sieur Lucas Arentsz, Agent of Resident Spierinck, received here the following parcels of 
Tobacco and Beavers which were brought in the subjoined two Swedish ships from the limits 
of the Incorporated West India Company in those countries, to wit: 

In the Ship the Fame. 
10 cases containing 2137 piecesof Beavers, which valued at 7 guilders, amount to, fl. 14,959 

Whereof the import duty is 2 stivers on every six guilders' value, fl. 249 6 

Item, 105 tubs of leaf tobacco, weighing, together, gross 2S,319 lbs. 
Whereof deduct, for tare, being 69 lbs', per tub, 6,300 lbs. 

Remains, 22,019 lbs. 



16 q NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

And from the Ship the Calmerslcutcl. 

783 rolls, 53 > 100 lbs - 

For sticks off, estimated at 6 pounds per roll, 4,69S lbs. 

nett, 4S.402 lbs. 

Total, 70,421 lbs. 

Whereof the customs amount to \\ stiv. per pound, fl. 4,401 6 

fl. 4,650 12 



Thus done, counted and settled with Sieur Lucas Arentsz, above named, in the presence 
of and before the undersigned Directors of the Chamber at Amsterdam and North quarter in 
Amsterdam, the 5 lh of July, of the year 1645. 

(Signed) Marcus de Vogelaar, 
Flooris Huych, 
Lucas Arentsz. 

The four thousand six hundred and fifty guilders twelve stivers, contained in the present 
account, are received by us undersigned in our aforementioned quality for the said West India 
Company from the hands of Sieur Lucas Arentsz, aforesaid, in the name as above; promising 
to guarantee and release him herein from all demands under bond of the property and effects 
of the aforesaid Company. 

In witness whereof is this signed, in Amsterdam, the 5 lh day of July, 1645, and was 

subscribed, 

% Marcus Vogelaar, 

Flooris Huych. 

Agrees, after collation, with its Original, dated and subscribed as above. 

(Signed) J. Havelaar, 

Notary public. 
Done at the Hague the xxix July, XVI. hundred five and forty. 1615 tV 



Instructions to the Director General and Council of New Netlierland. 

[ From the Commissie-boek of the States General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Instruction of the Deputies to the Assembly of the XIX. of the General 
Incorporated West India Company, for the Director and Council of New 
Netherland, according to which, they are provisionally, and until further 
order, to regulate themselves. 

Folio w. The supreme government in the countries of New Netherland, shall consist of 

three persons, namely: the Director as President, his Vice and the Fiscal, by whom occuring 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: III. 161 

matters appertaining to the police, justice, militia, dignity and rights of the Company, shall he 
treated and decided, each, nevertheless, being hound to vindicate his own commission. 

With this understanding, however, that in all cases wherein the Advocate fiscal shall be bound 
to prosecute, whether civilly or criminally, for the preservation of the right of the supreme 
government or the Company, the military command shall succeed to his place, and in criminal 
cases, two capable persons from the Commonalty shall, moreover, be joined from the district 
or Colonie where the crime or deed was committed. 

Regarding the prosecution of the settlement of the limits between New Netherland and the 
English, it is not yet determined to proceed therein; but the Director and Council are enjoined 
to see that the English do not incroach further on the Company's lands. Meanwhile, they 
are to try if the settlement of the limits cannot be arranged yonder with the aforesaid English, 
and if these are found so inclined, advice thereof shall be sent here by the first opportunity, 
together with pertinent information what extent of the Company's lands the English possess, in 
order to be instructed thereupon, when seen; all, with this understanding however, that the 
aforesaid English who are at present and have settled, within the Company's district, or who 
will be disposed to come and settle therein, must be subject to the Company's government 
there, and to that end take the oath of fidelity to the High and Mighty Lords States General 
and the West India Company, and consequently be, at the same time, accounted in no other 
wise than as original subjects. 

In order to reestablish peace and quietness, in the country, they shall endeavor, by all 
possible means to pacify and give satisfaction to the Indians; and the Director and Council are 
enjoined to promote, on the one side, the Company's interest and the welfare of the Commonalty, 
and on the other hand, to maintain good correspondence with the neighbors, and especially 
with the Indians. 

They shall endeavor as much as possible, that the colonists settle themselves with a certain 
number of families on some of the most suitable places, in the manner of villages, towns and 
hamlets, as the English are in the habit of doing, who thereby live more securely; this was 
also the Company's intention when it granted the heretofore printed Freedoms, and the 
amplification thereof. 

The aforesaid Director and Council shall speedily advance the repairs of Fort Amsterdam, 
for which purpose it is thought to be best, and least expensive to the Company, to have it 
repaired with clay, earth and firm sods, and that efforts be made, by some presents, to 
encourage the soldiers thereto, and to oblige them to keep it in permanent repair. Also, as it 
is of the highest importance to the colonists to have a good and safe retreat in case of necessity 
(which God forbid), they ought to be induced, for this once, to assist the work; and the 
Director is commanded to pay strict attention in future to the ordinary repairs. 

The persons hereinafter specified, shall be maintained for garrisoning the fort, at such 
allowance as shall be most advantageous to the Company, and for greater security, the 
Colonists and their servants shall be bound under certain penalty, to provide themselves with 
good guns and other arms for their defence, in order to be, with the garrison in time of need, 
a watch against any general attack, without the Director, colonists or any other person 
whatsoever, having the power of enlisting any soldiers, be they few or many, at the 
Company's expense. 

Vol. I. 21 



162 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Further, inasmuch as the respective colonies were allowed by the Freedoms, to commission 
one or two persons, to inform the Director and Council, at least every twelve months, of the 
state and condition of their Colonies, the same is again confirmed. 

The Director and Council shall cause the Colonists and freemen to settle, first of all, on the 
Island Manhattes and point out to them as much land as they shall be able to cultivate, either 
in planting tobacco or grain or any other crops to which the soil is adapted, and from which 
they will expect to be able to derive the largest profit. 

And for the promotion of agriculture there, it is deemed proper to permit, at the request of 
the Patroons, colonists and other farmers, the conveyance thither of as many Negroes as they 
are willing to purchase at a fair price; and the Director and Council shall notify the Assembly 
hereof every year, when further order shall be taken regarding the transport of Negroes thither. 

And although it is proposed, for the greater encouragement of the population, to reserve the 
trade with the Indians exclusively to the Patroons, Colonists and free farmers resident there, 
without permitting any import merchants (permissie vaerders) to carry on any interior trade with 
said Indians, it is, nevertheless, resolved, as regards this, to adhere to the existing practice, 
but the Director and Council shall take information hereupon, to serve as advice to the 
Assembly. 

The aforesaid Director and Council shall pay strict regard that no arms or munitions of war 
shall be sold by the freemen to the Indians, nor by the import merchants to the freemen or 
Indians upon certain heavy penalties to be thereon enacted, but the freemen who shall require 
any thing of the sort, shall be at liberty to procure them from the Company's store, on the order 
of the Directors and Council. 

And whereas the Company hath now resolved to throw open to private persons the trade 
which it hath exclusively carried on with New Nertherland, and to empower the respective 
Chambers of the Company to give permission to all private inhabitants of these countries to sail 
with their own ships to New Netherland, the Virginias, the Swedish, English and French 
colonies, the Bermudas or any other places situate thereabouts, according to the drafted 
regulation, they shall, therefore, strictly observe and cause to be obsered, that the contents 
thereof shall be attended to, as much as is in their power, proceeding against the contraveners, 
agreeably to the first article of the charter, and the tenor of the regulation already enacted, or 
to be hereafter made, and regarding the receipts of duties, tolls, and other customs already, or to 
be hereafter, imposed as well on exported, as on imported, goods, for so much thereof as 
shall have to be paid in that, and not in this, country. 

All which Points and Articles the Director and Council shall be bound to observe and to 
follow, as closely as possible, regulating themselves further according to the Instructions 
heretofore given for the government of those countries, so far as they are not by these presents 
altered, or may not be hereafter changed, which power this Assembly reserves unto itself. 

Thus done and resolved in the Assembly of the XIX. of the General Incorporated West India 
Company in Amsterdam, in the year 1645, the 7 th of July. Was paraphed. Hern van der 
Capellen toe Ryssel. Under — By order of the same. 

(Signed) Gysbert Rudolphy. 
Enregistered in the Acte-boek of the States General, on the 26 July, 1646. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: III. 163 

Subjects for the Consideration of the Assembly of the XIX. 1645. 

[ From the Original in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Points whereupon all the Chambers of the West India Company are summoned 
to meet at Middelburg on the 2 nd of September 1645, extracted so far as 
relates to the affairs of New Netherland. Read the 15 ,h of August, 1645. 
13 ,h Point. 

The Chambers will be pleased to instruct their deputies regarding the affairs of New 
Netherland, in order to resume the business of the 6 th and 7 th of July, and to resolve afterwards 
as shall be most serviceable and most advantageous for the Company. 

14'". 

What shall be done respecting the island of Curasao ; for it is certainly to be presumed that to 
maintain it as has been previously done, is too great a tax on the Company. And the 
Amsterdam Chamber which hath hitherto had the direction thereof, is requested to send its 
deputies prepared to give full explanation to serve for instruction in the resolution. 



-♦-■ > n > 



Proceedings of the Assembly of the XIX. in regard to New Netherland. 1645. 

[ From the Copy in the Boyal Archives at the Hague ; Loketkas of the States General ; Division, West Indische Compagnie, No. IT.] 

Extracts from the Resolutions of the Assembly of the XIX. of the West India 
Company, holden at Middelburg, from the 9 lh of September to the 16 th of 
October, 1645, as far as they relate to the affairs of New Netherland. 

Tuesday, the 21" September, 1645. 

The opinion of the before mentioned deputies being heard, it is, after divers discourses 
between the members from Amsterdam and other Chambers, concluded and resolved, inasmuch 
as some Clergymen are about to return home from Brazil, that they be permitted to return, and 
that the number of those who shall remain there be limited to nine persons, to wit: one for 
each ninth part, to be distributed by the President and Supreme Council among the principal 
places where the hearers are most numerous, and their services shall be most advantageous. 

And that the smaller places shall be served by precentors, comforters of the sick, and 
schoolmasters who shall offer up public prayers, read aloud from the old and new testament, 
from printed sermons, and tune the psalms. 

But inasmuch as the Amsterdam Chamber maintains, at its charge, seven of the aforesaid 
clergymen, besides one in Curasao, one in New Netherland and one in Loando, making 10 in 
all ; on the other hand, Zealand and the Maese have only one ; Zealand and North Holland 
is to send one, and Stadt en Landen 1 hath sent one by the last ship; it is resolved that the 

1 In 1594, Prince Maurice reduced the city of Groningen and united the Ommelanden, or surrounding rural districts, to it 
as one province. Martinet. Beschryving der Nederlanden, IX, 148. The province of Groningen was hence sometimes called 
Stadt en Landen ; city and country. — Ed. 



164 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Supreme government in Brazil shall be bound herein to make an equal repartition of those 
who are to remain in the service or are sent out, in order that thus the nine parts hereafter to 
be borne by the members, be equally charged. 

The Commissioners named on the 9 lh instant, etc. 

Read a remonstrance from Director Petrus Stuyvesandt, containing divers considerations 
relative to the island of Curacao and New Netherland ; also, read the 13 ,h and 14 ,h points of 
reference, both regarding the aforesaid countries; question having been put, it is resolved to 
refer the received remonstrance to the Commissioners who shall examine it, and advise the 
Assembly on the points of reference, and thereunto are appointed Mess" Van Hecke, de Laet, 
Hamel, Haelewyn, Huigh and Iddekinghe. 

Tuesday, the 26 th of Sept r , 1645. 
Read a letter from Willem Kieft, Director of New Netherland, written the 2 nd of August, 
1645, from fort New Amsterdam to the Amsterdam Chamber, and il is resolved to place it in 
the hands of the Committee on the 13 ,h and 14 ,h points of reference, to be made use of 
in their business. 

Wednesday, the 11 th of October, 1645. 
The Commissaries named on the 22 Dd instant 1 to examine the 12 ,h point of reference, speaking 
of the Yachts at present within the charter, and which are yet to be dispatched, have found 
that, of those sent by the Amsterdam Chamber to the respective places within the Charter, 
the following are still in the public service: 

The Santvoort, Spreeuw, Gulderee, on the coast of Brazil. 

Sloterdyk, Reyger, Heemstee, Vlug, on the coast of Angola. 
Reael, Fortuyntjen, on the coast of Guinea. 
Neptuynis, Cat, Parquit, in the West Indies. 
From Zealand, the Yachts, etc. 

Tuesday, the 12 tb of October, 1645. 

The Commissioners being again assembled on the 13 ,h and 14 lb points of reference, pursuant 

to the resolution of the ll lb instant, report, that before they can determine to express their 

opinion, the Chambers ought categorically to declare whether they will obey and execute the 

resolutions adopted on the 5 lh and 7 th of July last respecting New Netherland; whereupon, 

question being put, the deputies from the Chamber of Zealand declared, that they are instructed 

not to consent to the contribution of any money for the benefit of the aforesaid New Netherland ; 

but it may be inquired how such might be effected on certain conditions to be considered; the 

Company reserving to itself the supreme authority. Those of Amsterdam, Maese and the North 

Quarter declare, that their Chambers are ready to and will execute the resolutions of the 5 th 

and 7 th of July aforesaid; those of the city of Groeningen and Ommelanden (say) the 

circumstances of their Chambers do not admit of furnishing any money at present for New 

Netherland, but that their intention would truly agree with that of Zealand. The 

Commissioners having heard this declaration, further report that they are of opinion, that 

the dissenting (difficu/terende) Chambers shall declare whether they will abstain from all 

interference with New Netherland, and leave the management, on such plan as they may 

1 Sic— 'Ed. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: III. 165 

determine to enact, to those who shall carry out the resolutions, without meddling with that 
country again in case the condition of affairs there may hereafter improve. The deputies 
from Zealand, being requested, have undertaken to communicate further with their principals 
hereupon, in order to be prepared to-morrow, and those of Stadi en Landen will inform the 
Amsterdam Chamber within the space of one month, or sooner if possible. 

Friday, the 13 ,h of October, 1645. 

Regarding New Netherland: the gentlemen of Zealand being asked, pursuant to yesterday's 
resolution, declared their instructions to be, as before stated ; that they cannot resolve to 
contribute any thing to New Netherland ; whereupon, the other Chambers in all cases decide 
that Zealand is bound to execute the resolution of the previous XIX; and they persisting, it 
is resolved and concluded, that the equipment for New Netherland shall be completed according 
to the resolution of the previous Assembly, on condition, if any members fail to pay their 
contingent to the Amsterdam Chamber, the supreme government in Brazil shall be notified to 
charge the deficiency to the account of the Chambers, and to make good the same in sugar, 
to Amsterdam. 

On the petition of Albert Adriaense Van der Wielen, etc. 

It being stated that one Laurents Cornelisen, being banished from New Netherland, requests 
permission to be at liberty to go thither whenever the new Director proceeds there, and to 
pursue in peace, without being troubled by justice, some other business than that which he 
followed when he was banished ; on hearing further explanation of the circumstances of the 
case, it is resolved to leave the convict fgesententieerde) as he is, and that the petition lie on 
the table. 

Saturday, the 14 th of October, 1645. 
On resuming, the Chamber of Zealand adhering to its declaration rendered yesterday, and 
the other Chambers to the resolution, the proposal of the commissioners named on the 12 th of 
September, and whose report was made on the 10 th of this current month, relative to the 14 ,h 
and 13 th points of reference respecting Curasao and New Netherland, was consequently 
confirmed, reading, word for word, as follows: 

Project how Curasao can best be kept under the Director of New Netherland, 
and the old people be brought thence. 

There were on the aforesaid island, on the 1 st of September, 1644, in officers, train and 

military persons Heads, 116 

The ship Swol, carrying 22 guns, 76 

yacht Cat, do 14 do 50 

Neptuynis, do 10 do 46 

Paroquit, do 5 do 30 

Heads, 318 



IQQ NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

The aforesaid place might be henceforth garrisoned with 116 men, whose pay for a year 
would amount to 

1 Commandant with a lieutenant, per month, fl. 60 

1 Ensign, 36 

1 Comforter of the sick, 30 

1 Superintendent of the store with an auditor, 22 

1 Clerk, 14 

2 Serjeants at fl. 18, 36 

1 Smith and 1 corporal of the armory, 20 

2 Mason and carpenter (al fl. 22, — 44 

1 Barber (surgeon), 24 

1 Barber's mate, 12 

1 Baker, 18 

1 Baker's man, 12 

1 Gunner, 18 

2 Corporals (a), fl. 12, 24 

60 Soldiers@. fl. 8, 480 

12 Troopers @, fl. 12, 144 

8 Hands for the sloop per month, fl. 10, 80 

The yacht, the Paroquit, requires further : 

1 Skipper per month, 45 

1 Pilot, 28 

1 Supercargo, 16 

1 Chief boatswain, 18 

1 Gunner, 16 

15 Sailors, 130 

116 persons cost per month, the sum of fl. 1,327 

And the pay for 12 months, amounts to fl. 15,900. 

For maintenance of the garrison, also for the Indians, it is necessary to send from Fatherland 
in provisions, stores, merchandize, etc., to the amount, as per list N° , about the sum 
of fl 1S.356. - 

A first class ship and flyboat will have to be sent from Fatherland with 70 soldiers and 20 
seamen, for the purpose of conveying the people, provisions, etc., to Curacao, and relieving 
the old garrison, on the calculation that 26 men can be selected from the old hands, which 
would then make up the 116 persons, as hereinbefore stated. 

Which aforesaid ship and flyboat will have to carry out from Fatherland all the necessaries, 
agreeably to list number 1, already enumerated, together with the necessaries, according to lists 
Nos. 2, 3 and 4. 

Having arrived at Curasao and landed the people, the first class ship should retain the 
necessaries in list No. 2, which amount to the sum of fl.6,69S.14. 

And there embark 130 of the old forces, and deliver to the Cat the necessaries in list 
No. 3, fl. 3,999.4. 

The aforesaid yacht, the Cat, to be manned with 60 of the old forces at Curasao. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: III. 167 

And also to deliver over to the yacht Nepluynis, the like necessaries, according to list No. 3, 
amounting to fl. 3,999.4. 

The aforesaid Ncptuynis to be, in like manner, manned with 60 of the old forces. 

In the aforesaid first class ship and two yachts, ought to be laden the 2700 first quality 
hides, lying there ; and thus return home after cruising together through the West Indies, as 
long as their provisions permit. 

The flyboat and the ship Swol, ought to take on board all the old iron, unnecessary 
ordinance and other useless stores, along with as many horses, and as much salt and dried 
codfish, as can be stored therein ; with which the Director and the remainder of the old forces, 
being about 60 persons, should proceed to New Netherland, taking with him the stores, as per 
list No. 4, amounting to fl. 779.5. 

On arriving in New Netherland, the ship Swol, being old, ought to be sold, 1 together with 
the horses, the salt and old iron ; the soldiers who are to be brought along, should be retained 
in garrison there; and the flyboat, with the guns from Curacao, the dried codfish and the New 
Netherland soldiers, sent home, with intelligence whether peace has been concluded with the 
Indians. If so, it will be necessary to send a fast sailing frigate or boat, to be dispatched 
from New Netherland with provisions to Curacao ; to return thence with horses and salt, 
which can be sold in New Netherland, especially the horses, at a high price. 

Were Curasao also placed under the government of New Netherland, the garrison could 
be maintained at little expense, and the poor people preserved from the dreadful famine to 
which they have sometimes been subject. 

It had been much more advantageous for the Company to abandon the island of Curasao ; 
but this cannot be effected without the cooperation of their High Mightinesses and his 
Highness; and although it could be accomplished, yet we are obliged to incur the greater part 
of the aforesaid expense to bring the people thence. 

Meanwhile, their High Mightinesses and his Highness, will be informed of the situation of 
the aforesaid Island ; and that, in New Netherland, we can possess all the advantages over 
the enemy, except the great quantity of horses, which can be taken from Cura§ao to the 
Continent; and thus the aforesaid Island must be provided with the said garrison until their 
Mightinesses, upon application, shall resolve to abandon it. 

List of the provisions, stores and merchandise required for the Island Curasao, 
including the bark Paroquit, the sloop and large boat, in all 116 persons, 
as well marines as train bands, for one year. 

25 barrels of beef @, fl. 90 the bbl fl. 2,250 

19 barrels of pork (a. fl. 62J the bbl., 1,187 10 

10 cans of oil (3. fl. 80, 800 

12 hogsheads of vinegar (tk fl. 20 240 

36 barrels of groats, 864 

26 barrels of beans @. fl. 13, 14 stiv., 336 

14 ditto, grey peas, (a). 19, 4 stiv., 268 16 

14 ditto, white peas, @. 19, 4, 268 16 

1 Thia vessel was sold, in September, 1647, to Mr. Goodyear, deputy governor of New Haven. 



](j ( S NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

7,200 lbs. dried codfish (g. fl. 9, per 100 lbs., 64S 

3,600 lbs. bread at same price, 324 

20,000 lbs. meal (a. fl. 5 per 100 lbs., 1,000 

3,000 lbs. cheese (a. fl. 17 per 100 lbs., 510 

2 barrels butter (a, fl. S3 per bbl 16G 

9 casks Spanish wine (]L fl. 70 ea., 630 

3 ditto, French wine <a. fl. 40 ea., 120 

Spices, mace, nutmegs, pepper, ginger, cloves, sugar and prunes, 

for the sick, 250 

10,123 6 

Stores for the ship Paroquit, sloop, and jolly boat. 

2 bales of canvas (1L fl. 150 ea., fl. 300 

100 lbs. of best bolt rope come to 16 

30 lbs. of sail yarn (jL 9 stiv. per lb., 12 

12 bundles of assorted thread, 13 12 

45 bundles of marline (Si 4 stiv. ea., 9 

40 bundles of huisingh (jL G stiv., 12 

43 bundles of twine (3~ 5 stiv., 5 15 

600 lbs. light running line, ■ 96 

S tons of tar (a. fl. 12 the ton 96 

2 barrels of pitch (g, fl. 12, 24 

3 barrels of rosin (a, fl. 30, 90 

60 clew lines (clouwens werck), (iL 6 St., IS 

1 prince's flag, for the fort 33 

100 boards, 200 

9 hamburg planks 63 

70 boat planks, Ill 

500 norway deals 225 

50 sawed boards, 30 

1,000 assorted spikes, 160 

1 hide of pump leather, 12 10 

100 lbs. suet, 25 

100 lbs. tallow, 24 

300 lbs. double medium nails, 4S 



1.S96 17 



Ammunition for fort Amsterdam and the yacht Paroquit. 

1200 lbs. new powder, fl. 405 

50 five lb. balls, 15 

600 lbs. of musket balls, 90 

600 lbs. pig lead, 60 

4 reams cartridge paper, 60 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: ILL 169 

20 lbs. cartridge thread, 20 

10 kegs of black, 
1 keg of red, J 
1 keg of white, paint, SO 

1 keg of red, \ 
1 ditto of yellow. 

1 small barrel of liuseed oil, 36 

S46 

Materials for the use of the Salt manufacture and agriculture. 

30 barrows for unloading salt (a^ 2-5 stiv., ea, fl. 7 5 

60 bound shovels, (a. IS stiv., 54 

40 hollow ditto, (a, S stiv., 16 

100 axes, (a. la stiv., 90 

100 chopping knives, (a. IS stiv., 90 

3 chaldrons of smith's coals, (JL fl. 22, 66 

2 seins, (a. fl.66, 132 



526 



Cargoes for distribution among the Indians and Negroes, for clothing. 

600 ells of white linen, 12 @. 14 stiv. the ell., fl. 360 

300 pairs of shoes, from 7 to 10 sizes, (IL 2S stiv., 420 

400 ells coarse linen (£L 6 stiv., 120 

30 lbs. gray yarn, 30 

150 packs linen clothes, 300 



For the office. 

5 reams of paper, fl. 25 

6 blank books, 42 

6 penknives. 3 

20 bundles of quills : 9 

Ink powder, 4 

One medicine chest, well supplied with good and fresh medicines. 



1.230 



S3 



Invoice of merchandise necessary to be distributed to the garrisons in part 
payment of their monthly wages. 

3 ps. of colored everlasting fl. 96 

3 ps. of muslin, 60 

3 ps. of colored coarse camlet, 102 

3 ps. of colored camlet, 90 

Vol. I. 22 



270 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

4 ps. of Haerlem narrow stuff, 36 

500 prs. of shoes @. 5 stiv. the pair, 750 

2 ps. of mixed cloth, 300 

1 pc. of red , 100 

900 ells of linen cloth (a). 15 stiv., 675 

300 ells (a). 25 stiv. per ell, 375 

600 ells unbleached linen (aX 8 stiv., 240 

silk thread, assorted balls, 200 

a tin service (a. 230 lbs. tin, 149 10 

3 doz. napkins, 36 

1 doz. towels, 10 

6 tablecloths, 24 

2,985 10 

fl. 17,675 13 

The ship that carries the provisions thither, being to be manned with 130 hands, 
and cruising through the West Indies on her return home, requires provisions 
as follows : — 

16 barrels of Beef (3, fl. 90 the bbl., fl. 1,440 

15 ditto of Pork (a. fl. 62J " " 937 10 

5$ awms of Oil @. fl. 80 " awm, 440 

5 hogsheads Vinegar @. fl. 25 ea., 125 

18 barrels white peas (S. fl. 19 the bbl., 342 

10 barrels grey peas " " 190 

6 ditto beans @, fl. 13 14 stiv., " 79 4 

IS ditto groats @. fl. 24, » " 432 

5000 lbs. dried codfish @. fl. 9 per 100, 450 

15000 " bread @. fl. 9 " 100, 1,350 

300 Cheeses, being 3000 lbs. @, fl. 17 the 100, 410 

4 casks of Spanish wine, 360 

1 ditto Brandy, 100 

1 case £ wax candles, 50 

fl. 6,698 14 

List of the Provisions for the Yacht the Neptuynis, having a crew of 60 persons, 
to return to Fatherland with them after cruising through the West Indies; 
requires therefor the following provisions, stores, and munitions of War. 

7 bbls.of Beef (fl fl. 90 per bbl., fl.630 

6 ditto of Pork @. fl. 62J " 375 

2i awms of Oil (a), fl. SO per awm, 200 

2 half casks of Vinegar (at fl. 32, 64 

8 bbls. white peas @. fl. 19 4 st. per bbl., 153 12 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: III. 171 

5 bbls. grey peas (a), fl. 19 4 st. per bbl., 96 

4 ditto beans @. fl. 12 14 st., " 54 16 

5 ditto groats @. fl. 24 " " 192 

2,000 lbs. dried codfish @, fl. 9 per 100, 180 

6,000 lbs. biscuit @. fl. 9 per 100, ► 540 

130 Cheeses, being 1,300 lbs., @. fl. 17 per 100, 221 

3 casks Spanish wine, 270 

1 ditto Brandy, 1 00 

i awm Train oil 27 

1 cask £ wax £ tallow candles, 50 

Total of the provisions, fl.3,150 8 

1 bale of canvas, 170 

100 lbs. of bolt rope, 16 

20 lbs. sail yarn (ai 10 stiv. per lb, 10 

li ton of Tar @. fl. 12 the ton, 18 

1 ton of pitch, 12 

1 bbl. of rosin, 30 

40 clew lines (§1 6 stiv., 12 

400 lbs. running line, fl. 16 the 100, 64 

10 ps. linen (Si fl. 1J the pc, 15 

20 bundles marline (al 4 stiv. the bundle, 4 

20 bundles huysingh (§1 6 stiv. the bundle, 6 

20 bundles hording (aX 5 stiv. the bundle, 5 

6 tar brushes (aL 6 stiv. the ps., 1 16 

1 prince's flag, 33 

10 boat plank (al -5 stiv. the ps., 15 

4 hamburg planks (al fl. 7, 2S 

50 norway deals, 20 

300 lbs. assorted nails @. fl. 15 the 100, 45 

100 lbs. tallow, 20 

1 hide pumpleather, 12 

flatheads and pump nails for, 6 

fl.542 16 

Ammunition. 

1 ream cartridge paper, fl. 12 

4 lbs. cartridge, 4 

500 lbs. good powder, 200 

fl. 216 



J72 NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

The ammunition, A- 216 

The stores, 542 16 

The provisions, 3,150 8 

Total o£ the required necessaries, 3,909 4 

And as much for the Yacht the Cat, manned with 60 hands. 

The Ship the Swol requires one month's provisions in order, with 60 hands, to convey some 
horses, salt and other effects from Curasao to New Netherland : 

1 barrel of beef, fl. 90 

1 ditto pork, 62 10 

3 ditto vegetables, 60 

300 lbs. dried codfish, 27 

900 lbs. bread, 82 

60 cheeses, 102 

fl. 423 10 

Oil, Vinegar, wine, will be had from the other ships. 

Stores. 

1J bale of canvas for a new mainsail and further repairs of other sails, fl. 247 

100 lbs. coarse bolt rope, 16 

15 lbs. sail yarn, 7 10 

8 bundles of assorted line,. ..>... 12 

15 bundles huysingh, 3 

15 bundles marline, .-..-..< 3 15 

15 bundles boards, 3 

2 tons tar, 24 

1 ton pitch, 12 

A barrel of rosin, 15 

1 hide pump leather, 12 10 



Stores amount to, 355 15 

Provisions, 423 10 



fl. 779 5 



The Commissioners appointed on 21 s< of September on the 13" 1 point of reference, relating 
to the resolution of the XIX., adopted the 6 lh and 7 ,b of July last, have, after consultation, and 
after having deliberated on the aforesaid resolution, resolved to submit to the Assembly their 
considerations on said resolutions, and first, on that of the 6 th of July, contained in 5 distinct 
articles. 

On the first, which reads thus: That the enactment of the 4 ,h of May previous, shall be 
entered by form of Instruction to be given provisionally to the Director going thither. Said 
Instruction to be confirmed except this Assembly find it expedient to add thereunto by form 
of amplification. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS : III. 173 

On llie second, which reads: That the Company shall open the trade and commerce to New 
Netherlands which they had exclusively retained and prosecuted themselves, allowing individuals 
to sail thither with their own ships, or freight, &c. The Commissioners judge that this opening 
and permission, as far as relates to New Netherland, ought not to be extended farther than to 
the Patroons of Colonies and all Colonists having and holding a dwelling in yonder country, 
without giving it to those who merely go over and hither, spoil the trade, threaten the Company 
on all occasions, and rob both here and there, and by smuggling of contraband goods strengthen 
the Company's enemies, and by conveying strong liquors, debauch the Colonists and inhabitants. 

To leave unaltered the remainder regarding the Virginias, the Swedish Colony, the 
Bermudas, &c. To consider only whether the Assembly should not resolve that one or two 
cargoes be sent alternately by the respective Chambers, in the manner as used heretofore to 
be done. 

Leaving the third point untouched, as it stands, we should only enlarge it with this addition: 
That all the goods sent to New Netherland, or parts thereabout, must first and foremost come 
to Fort New Amsterdam, before being exported elsewhere, for the purpose of having their permits 
exhibited there, to be entered and that the ships may be visited, in order to see that they have 
no prohibited or unentered goods on board. In like manner, the return cargoes shall have to 
be entered at the same place; and it must be declared for what ports in this country they are 
destined, with the restriction, that the duties and other imposts shall have to be paid into the 
Chamber from which they obtained the permit, and they shall be cleared thence for Fort New 
Amsterdam : further, they shall be bound to return direct to Fatherland, without being at 
liberty to touch at any trading places, on pain of forfeiture of ship and goods, should they 
act otherwise. 

Finally, leaving the remaining points as they are, also the instruction to be amplified by 
new additions of what this Assembly may determine further to resolve on the suggestion of 
Director Stuyvesant. 

Monday, lG lh of October, 1645. 
The presiding Chamber of Zealand, with those of the General Board of Accounts, is 
deputed and authorized to execute the resolution adopted by this Assembly, so far as authorized 
thereunto by instruction. 



* ' ■ » ■■ 



The Amsterdam Chamber of the West India Company to the States General. 

[From the Origiual in ttio Royal Archives at the Hague ; File, West India. ] 

High and Mighty Lords. 

We have duly received you High Mightinesses' postile, of the 13 th of April last, inscribed on 
the margin of a certain petition presented to your High Mightinesses in the name, and on the 
behalf, of Simon Janssen, of Durgerdam, late skipper of the ship named St. Peter, acting as 
agent for his late owners ; the aforesaid postile importing, that we should also communicate 
our remarks on the aforesaid petitioner's request presented to your High Mightinesses on the 
3 rd of November, of the past year, and sent to the Assembly of the XIX., in Zealand. 



17 4 NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

It will serve for fulfillment of said order, that a written agreement and contract was made, 
on the 13 th of August, of the year 1644, with the aforesaid Simon Janssen, that he should be 
at liberty to sail with the aforesaid ship St. Peter, from this city, Amsterdam, to New 
Netherland, situate within the limits of our Charter; on condition that he, before loading his 
goods, should be bound to bring the same into the Company's warehouses, in order to be 
conveyed on board, when inspected and stamped with the Company's mark; and to cause to 
be paid thereon the duty of sixteen per cent, in addition to the permits and convoys ; also, that 
he should not, whilst on the way between this city and the fort Manhattes, in New Netherland, 
touch at any other places; but be obligated to discharge his laden merchandise at, and as far 
as possible to be of service to, the aforesaid fort; all on pain of forfeiting the aforesaid ship 
and property; and although he, Simon Janssen, ought accordingly to have fulfilled the 
aforesaid contract according to its tenor, and to regulate himself in conformity to its contents, 
yet he is found, in truth, to have violated it in divers instances. 

First: having set sail from here and arrived about Durgerdam, without, yea, against our 
consent, he received and took on board the ship a quantity of gunpowder, notwithstanding 
private individuals are not permitted to trade in that article. 

Secondly : he did not proceed from this country to New Netherland, but to the Bermudas, 
and there broke bulk ; and trucked, or sold, the greater part of his goods for, or against, West 
India hides, and a good many pieces of eight. 

Thirdly: on arriving afterwards in New Netherland, it was discovered that he had brought 
with him divers contraband and prohibited goods; though it was impossible to make so 
thorough an examination, because the said Simon Janssen had sailed from the Texel without 
taking with him any invoice from the Company. All which, coming to the knowledge of 
Cornells van der Hoyckens, the Fiscal, he prosecuted the said Skipper before the Director and 
Council. Duly instituting his action, agreeably to the signed contract, and concluding that the 
aforesaid ship and property should be declared forfeited and confiscated to the profit of 
the Company; the aforesaid Skipper answered thereto, and the Fiscal replied. Finally, the 
Fiscal's demand and conclusion were allowed by judgment of the aforesaid Director and 
Council, except the goods which belonged to the sailors, and paid the duties here. And 
whereas, your High Mightinesses can, from what precedes, sufficiently infer that the said 
Simon Janssen complains unjustly of those of the Company, and that the case of said ship, as 
between him and the aforesaid Fiscal, has been now already examined, in New Netherland, 
and decided by the definitive judgment of the Director General and Council ; we, therefore, 
humbly pray you, High and Mighty, to be pleased to dismiss the request contained in the 
petition of the aforesaid Simon Janssen, and to order him not to trouble us any more touching 
the matter aforesaid. Wherewith ending 

We shall pray God for the continued success of your High Mightinesses' prosperous 
government and remain 

High and Mighty Lords, 

Your High Mightinesses' humble servants, 
The Directors of the West India Company, Chamber at Amsterdam. 
Amsterdam the 26"' of May, 1646. (Signed) Jacob Pergens. 

Received 29 th May, 1616. Joannes Ryckaert. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: III. 175 

West India Company to the States General. 

[ From the Original in the Royal Archives at the Hague ; File, West Indie. ] 

To the High and Mighty Lords States General of the United Netherlands. 

High and Mighty Lords. 

The Directors of the Incorporated West India Company, supplicate, with all reverence, that 
your High Mightinesses he pleased to cause to be issued the commission of Petrus Stuyvesant, 
Director of New Netherland, a form whereof is hereunto annexed. 

Which doing, &c. 

(Endorsed) Memorial on behalf the West India Company, in favor 
of the Director to New Netherland. 13 July, 1646. 



Resolution of the States General on the preceding Letter. 

[ From the Register of West India affairs, 163S— 1651, in (he Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Friday, 13 th of July, 1646. 
Foiio 207. Read in the Assembly a certain memorial presented to their High Mightinesses 

in the name and on behalf of the Directors of the Incorporated West India Company of this 
country, requesting that their High Mightinesses would be pleased to cause to be dispatched 
stuyvesant. a commission for Petrus Stuyvesant, Director of New Netherland, according to 

New Netherland. tne f orm ula exhibited and submitted to the Assembly with the aforesaid 
memorial. Whereupon, deliberation being had, it is resolved and concluded, before proceeding 
herein, that inquiry be made what order and plan are generally adopted on such and similar 
occasions, and what disposition the above named Directors of the West India Company have 
com.iaints of the ma( ^ e °f tne complaints presented heretofore to their High Mightinesses, in the 
inhabitant* thereof. name and on bena | f of tne inhabitants of New Netherland aforesaid, and what 

has been done therefor in their High Mightinesses' Assembly, in order that further disposition 
be made therein, as shall be deemed meet. 



West India Company to the States General. 

[ From the Original in the Royal Archives at the Hague ; File, West Indie. ] 

To the High and Mighty Lords States General of the United Netherlands. 

High and Mighty Lords. 

The Directors of the Incorporated West India Company had, some days since, respectfully 
requested of your High Mightinesses, a patent of commission for the Director Petrus 



176 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Stuyvesant, for New Netherland, according to the annexed draft, whereunto, pursuant to your 
High Mightinesses' then order, Secretary Mus hath looked up the commissions issued heretofore 
by your High Mightinesses. Therefore the above named Directors supplicate your High 
Mightinesses with all due reverence, to be pleased to cause to be issued the commission 
aforesaid, inasmuch as two ships lie in the Texel ready to sail at the moment your High 
Mightinesses' patent shall be sent on board for the above named Petrus Stuyvesant. 
Which doing, etc. 

(Endorsed) Memorial on behalf of the West India Company. 24 July, 1646. 



Resolution of the States General on the preceding Memorial. 

[ From the Register of West India affairs, 1633—1651, in the Royal Archives at the Uague.] 

Tuesday, 24 lb of July, 1646. 
Folio 207. a certain memorial, presented to their High Mightinesses by and on behalf of 

stuivesant. t] ie West India Company of this. country, for a commission for Petrus Stuyvesande 

New Netheriand. as Director of New Netherland, being read in the Assembly; it is, previous to 
proceeding further herein, resolved and concluded, that their High Mightinesses' resolution 
concerning New Netherland, adopted on the 13 lb instant, and the other thereunto relating, shall 
be looked up and examined, in order to take further action according as it shall appertain. 



West India Company to the States General. 

I From the Original in the Royal Archives at the Hague ; File, West Indie. ] 

Noble, High and Mighty President. 

May it please your Honor to know, in regard to the application of the Directors of the West 
India Company for a commission for the Director of New Netherland, the retro acta have been 
lying, for the last 10 or 12 days, in the office of Your High Mightinesses' Secretary, pursuant to 
your High Mightinesses' order. We pray your High Mightinesses to cause the patent to be 
dispatched, inasmuch as 2 ships are waiting at the Texel only for that, in order to set sail. 
Which doing, &c. 

(Endorsed) Memorial on behalf of the West India Company, 26 <h of July, 1646. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS : III. 177 

Resolution of the States General on the preceding Memorial. 

[ From the Register of West India Affairs, 1689—1651, in the Royal Archives at the Hague.] 

Thursday, 26 th July, 1646. 
roiio 208. a. certain memorial, presented to their High Mightinesses by and on behalf of 

Director going to ° ° •> 

New Nethtriand. the West India Company for a patent of Commission for the Director going to 
New Netherland, being read to the Assembly ; it is, after previous deliberation, resolved and 
concluded, before proceeding thereupon, that the above named West India Company shall 
exhibit to their High Mightinesses an authentic copy of the Instruction for the above mentioned 
Director, according to which he will have to regulate himself. 



Resolution of the States General approving the Commission of Director Stuyvesant. 

[ From the RegUter of West India affairs, 1088—1651, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Saturday, 2S ,h July, 1646. 

stuiveS MS ' ^ ie ^ ra ^ °f tne commission made out for Petrus Stuivesant, as Director of 

New n Net™riand. N ew Netherland as well as of Curasao and some other Islands, being read in the 
Assembly; it is, after previous deliberation, considered as enacted, and further ordered, that 
said commission be issued without reconsideration, inasmuch as the aforesaid Director is very 
urgent to depart. 



Minute of Peter Stuyvesant having been sworn in as Director of New Netherland. 

[ From the Register of West India Affairs, 1638 — 1651, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Resolution of the States General. 

Saturday, the 28 th July, 1646. 
Folio 208. Petrus Stuivesant appeared before the Assembly as Director of New Netherland 

Stuivesant. * * , J 

commission. an d Directorof Curacao, and some other islands mentioned in his commission, and 

Oath. * 

New Netherland. took, according to a certain formulary, the proper oath, and amongst other things, 
swore specially that he would conform to his Instruction given him by the Assembly of the 
West India Company, which Instruction is, pursuant to their High Mightinesses' order dated 
the 26 th instant, exhibited at their High Mightinesses' Assembly, and a copy thereof 
enregistered in the Act Book. 



Vol. I. 23 



178 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Commission of Peter Stuyvesant as Director General of New Netherland. 

[ From the Ccrmmwsie-iioek of the States General in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Commission for Petrus Stuyvesant as Director on the Coast of New Netherland 
as well as the Island of Curasao and the places thereupon depending. 

Folio 201. The States General of the United Netherlands to all those to whom these 

Presents shall come, or who shall hear them read, Health. Be it Known : Whereas We 
have deemed it advisable for the advancement of the affairs of the General Incorporated West 
India Company not only to maintain the trade and population on the Coast of New Netherland 
and the places situate thereabout; also, the Islands Curacao, Buenaire, Aruba and their 
dependencies, which have hitherto been encouraged thither from this country, but also to make 
new treaties and alliances with foreign princes and to inflict as much injury as possible on the 
enemy in his forts and strongholds as well by sea as by land ; for which purposes it becomes 
necessary to appoint a person Director; We, therefore, confiding in the probity and experience 
of Petrus Stuyvesant, formerly entrusted with Our affairs in, and the government of, the 
aforesaid Island of Curasao and the places thereon depending, We, being well pleased with 
his services there, have commissioned and appointed, and by these presents do commission and 
appoint the said Petrus Stuyvesant, Director in the aforesaid countries of New Netherland, 
and the places thereunto adjoining, together with the aforementioned Islands of Curasao, 
Beunaire, Aruba, and their dependencies ; to administer, with the Council as well now as 
hereafter appointed with him, the said office of Director, both on water and on land, and in 
said quality, to attend carefully to the advancement, promotion and preservation of friendship, 
alliances, trade and commerce ; to direct all matters appertaining to traffic and war, and to 
maintain, in all things there, good order for the service of the United Netherlands and the 
General West India Company ; to establish regularity for the safeguard of the places and forts 
therein; to administer law and justice as well civil as criminal; and, moreover, to perform 
all that concerns his office and duties in accordance with the Charter, and the general and 
particular instructions herewith given, and to be hereafter given him, as a good and faithful 
Director is bound and obliged, by his oath in Our hands to do ; Which done, We, therefore, 
order and command all other officers, common soldiers, together with the inhabitants and 
natives residing in the aforesaid places as subjects, and all whom it may concern, to 
acknowledge, respect and obey the said Petrus Stuyvesant as Our Director in the countries and 
places of New Netherland, and in the Islands of Curacao, Beunaire, Aruba, and their 
dependencies, and to afford all help, countenance and assistance in the performance of these 
things, as We have found the same to be for the advantage of the Company. Done in Our 
Assembly at the Hague, on the xxviii. July, 1646. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: III. 179 

Resolution of the States General. 

i 

t From the Register of West India affairs, 1688 — 1861, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Saturday, 2S ,b July, 1646. 
Foiio 20s. pr Lubbertus van Dinclagen appeared in the Assembly as Second, and first 

J>r. Lubbertus van * - J 

Dinciagen. Councillor of the Director of New Netherland, and hath sworn that he will observe 

NawNetneriand. the Commission given him by those of the Asssembly of the West India Company, 
on the 5 lb May 1645, as well as the Instruction which has been furnished him on the behalf as 
aforesaid, dated 7 th July of the present year ; whereupon he withdrew. 



Certificate that Lubbertus van Dinclagen has taJcen the Oath of Office. 

I From CmnmiiMie-loek of the State* General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Foiio 202. This day the xxviii. July XVI.« and six and forty D r Lubbertus van Dinclagen 

hath, as Vice-governor and first councillor of the Director in New Netherland, taken the proper 
oath at the hands of the President of their High Mightinesses' Assembly that he will strictly 
conduct himself agreeably to his commission and the Instruction furnished him on the part of 
the Assembly of the XIX, and dated 7 th July, 1645. 



JOURNAL OF NEW NETHERLAND ; 

Written in the years 1641, 1642, 1643, 1644, 1645 and 1646. 

[From a Manuscript in the Royal Library at the Hague. ] 

Brief Description of New Netherland. 

New Netherland, so called because it was first frequented and peopled by the free 
Netherlanders, is a province in the most northerly part of America, situate between N. England 
(which bounds it on the N. E. side) and Virginia, lying to the S. VV. Its entire length is 
washed by the ocean and has a clean sandy beach resembling very much that of Flanders or 
Holland, having, except the rivers, few bays or harbors for ships. The air is very temperate, 
inclining to dryness, healthy, little subject to sickness. The four seasons of the year are about 
as in France or the Netherlands; the difference being, the spring is shorter, because it begins 
later; the summer is hotter, because it comes on more suddenly; the autumn is long and very 
pleasant; the winter cold and liable to much snow. Two winds ordinarily prevail, the N. W. 
in winter, and the S. W. in summer; the other winds are not common; the N. W. corresponds 
with our N. E., because it blows across the country from the cold point, like our N. E. The 



180 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

S. W. is dry and hot like our S. E., because it comes from the warm countries; the N. E. is 
cold and wet like our S. W., for similar reasons. The aspect of the country is very like that 
of France; the land is reasonably high and level, to wit, along the coast, broken by small hills 
which are rocky and unlit for cultivation ; further in the interior are pretty high mountains, 
exhibiting generally strong indications of minerals ; between those mountains flow a great 
number of small streams; there are even in places, some, but not many, lofty mountains of 
extraordinary height; in fertility, the country falls behind no province in Europe both as to 
excellence and cleanness of fruits and seeds. There are three principal rivers, namely : the 
Fresh, the Mauritius, and the South rivers; all three reasonably wide and deep, adapted to 
the navigation of large ships twenty-five leagues up, and of common sloops even unto the 
falls; a canal extends from the river Mauritius to beyond the Fresh river, and forms an island 
forty leagues in length, called Long Island. This is the ordinary passage from N. England to 
Virginia, having on hoth sides many harbors for anchorage, so that people make no difficulty 
about navigating it in winter. The country is for the most part covered with trees, except a 
• few valleys and some large flats, seven or eight leagues and less in extent; the trees consist as 
in Europe, of oak, hickory, chestnut, vines. The animals also are of the same species as ours, 
except lions and some other strange beasts; many bears, abundance of wolves, which harm 
nothing but small cattle. Elks and deer in vast numbers, foxes, beavers, otters, minx, and such 
like. The fowls which are natural to the country, are turkeys, like ours, swans, geese of 
three sorts, ducks, teals, cranes, herons, bitterns; two sorts of partridges, four sorts of heath 
fowl or pheasants. The river fish is like that of Europe, namely : carp, sturgeon, salmon, 
pike, perch, roach, eel, etc. In the salt waters are found cod, shellfish, herring, and so 
fortli ; also abundance of oysters and muscles. 

The Indians are of ordinary stature, strong and broad shouldered ; olive color, light and 
nimble of foot, subtle in disposition, of few words, which they previously well consider; 
hypocritical, treacherous, vindictive, brave and pertinacious in self defence ; in time of need, 
resolute to die. They seem to despise all the torments that can be inflicted on them, and do 
not utter a single moan, they go almost naked, except a flap which hangs before their 
nakedness, and on their shoulders a deer skin, or a mantle, a fathom square, of woven turkey 
feathers, or of peltries sewed together; they make use now generally of blue or red (duffels), 
in consequence of the frequent visits of the Christians. In winter they make shoes of deer 
skin, manufactured after their fashion. Except their chiefs, they have generally but one wife 
whom they frequently change according to caprice ; she must do all the work, plant corn and 
cut wood, and attend to whatever else is to be done. The Indians are divided into various 
nations. They differ even in language, which would be altogether too long to be related in 
this brief space. They dwell together, mostly from friendship, in tribes commanded by a 
chief, who is the General, and usually called Sackema ; he does not possess much authority 
and but little distinction, unless in their dances and other ceremonies. They have hardly any 
knowledge of God; no Divine Worship, no law, no justice; the strongest does what he 
pleases, and the young men are masters. Their weapons are the bow and arrow, in the use of 
which they are wonderful adepts. Hunting and fishing, in addition to the maize which the 
women plant, furnish them food. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: 111. 181 



By Whom and How New Netheiu.and was Peopled. 

The subjects of the Lords States General, had frequented this country a long time ago, 
solely for the purpose of the fur trade. Since the year 1623, the Incorporated West India 
Company caused four forts to be erected, two on the River Mauritius, and one on each of the 
others; the largest, which their Honors named New Amsterdam, stands on the point formed 
by the Mauritius and the other river already mentioned; six and thirty miles higher up, is 
another fort called Orange; that on the south river is named Nassauw, and that on the Fresh 
river, the Good Hope, in which the Company hath since continually maintained garrisons. In 
the beginning, their Honors sent thither a certain number of settlers, and caused to be erected 
at great expense, three saw mills, which never realized any profit of consequence, on account 
of their great charge ; a great deal of money was also expended for the advancement of the 
country, but it never began to be settled until every one was permitted to trade with 
the Indians, inasmuch as, up to that time, no one calculated to remain there longer than the 
expiration of his bounden time, and therefore did not apply himself to agriculture ; yea, even 
the Colonie of Renselaerswyck was of little consequence. But as soon as the trade was opened, 
many servants who had prospered under the Company applied for their discharge, built houses 
and formed plantations, spread themselves far and wide, each seeking the best land, and to be 
nearest to the Indians, in order thus to trade with them advantageously ; others bought sloops 
with which to sell goods at the north and at the south, and as the Directors gave free passage 
from Holland thither, that also caused many to come. On the other hand, the English came 
both from Virginia and N. England, on account of the good opportunity to plant tobacco here; 
first, divers servants, whose time had expired; afterwards, families, and finally, entire colonies, 
having been forced to quit that place, in order to enjoy freedom of conscience, and to escape 
from the insupportable government of New England, and because many more commodities 
were to be obtained here than there, so that in place of seven bouweries and two @ three 
plantations which were here, thirty bouweries were to be seen as well cultivated and stocked as in 
Europe, [and] one hundred plantations which, in two or three [years] would become regular 
bouweries, for after the tobacco was out of the ground, corn was planted there without 
ploughing, and the winter was employed preparing new lands. The English colonies had 
settled under us by patent on equal terms with the others. Each of these was in appearance 
not less than one hundred families strong, exclusive of the Colonie of Reusselaerswyck, which 
is prospering, with that of Myndert Meyndertsz and Cornelis Melyn, who began first. Also the 
Village of N. Amsterdam around the fort, one hundred families, so that there was appearance 
of producing supplies in a year for fourteen thousand souls, without straightening the country, 
and had there not been a want of laborers or farm servants, twice as much could be raised, 
considering that fifty lasts of rye and fifty lasts of peas were still remaining around the fort, 
after a large quantity had been burnt and destroyed by the Indians, who in a short time 
quickly brought this country to nought and had well nigh destroyed this bright hope, in the 
manner following. 

The Causes and Consequence of the New Netherland War. 

We have already stated that the Liberty to trade with the Indians was the cause of the 
increase of population in N. Netherland. We shall now show that it also is the cause of its 



l$2 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

ruin; producing two opposite effects, and that not without reason as will appear from 
what follows. 

This Liberty, then, which in every respect was most gratefully received ; which should have 
been used like a precious gift, was very soon perverted to a great abuse. For every one 
thought that now was the acceptable time to make his fortune; withdrew himself from his 
fellow, as if deeming him suspected and the enemy of his desire, sought communication with 
the Indians from whom it appeared his profit was to be derived, all contrary to their High 
Mightinesses' motto. 1 That created first, a division of power of dangerous consequence; then 
produced altogether too much familiarity with the Indians, which in a short time brought forth 
contempt, usually the Father of Hate. For, not satisfied with merely taking them into their 
houses in the customary manner, they attracted them by extraordinary attention, such as 
admitting them to Table, laying napkins before them, presenting Wine to them and more of 
that kind of thing, which they did not receive like Esop's man, but as their due and desert, 
insomuch that they were not content, but began to hate, when such civilities were not shown 
them. To this familiarity and freedom succeeded another Evil : as the cattle usually roamed 
through the Woods without a Herdsman, they frequently came among the corn of the Indians 
which was unfenced on all sides, committing great damage there ; this led to frequent complaints 
on the part of the latter, and, dually, to revenge on the cattle, without sparing even the horses 
which were valuable in the country. Moreover, many of our's took the Indians into their 
employ, making use of them in their house work ; thus exposing to them our entire 
circumstances; soon becoming weary of work, the Indians took leg-bail and stole much more 
than the amount of their wages. Tins Liberty caused still greater mischief: for the inhabitants 
of Itenselaerswyck, who were as many traders as persons, perceiving that the Mohawks were 
craving for guns, which some of them had already received from the English, paying for each 
as many as Twenty Beavers and for a pound of powder as many as Ten to Twelve guilders, 
came down in greater numbers than usual where guns were plenty, purchasing them at a 
fair price, realizing in this way considerable profit; they afterwards obtained some from their 
Patroon for self defence, in time of need, as we suppose. This extraordinary gain was not 
long kept secret, the traders coming from Holland soon got scent of it, and from time to time 
brought over great quantities, so that the Mohawks in a short time were seen with fire locks ; 
powder and leal in proportion. Four hundred armed men knew how to make use of their 
advantage, especially against their enemies, dwelling along the River of Canada, against whom 
they have now achieved many profitable forays where before they had but little advantage ; 
this caused them also to be respected by the surrounding Indians even as far as the Sea coast, 
who must generally pay them tribute, whereas, on the contrary, they were formerly obliged to 
contribute to these. On this account the Indians endeavored no less to procure Guns, and 
through the familiarity which existed between them and our people, began to solicit the latter 
for Guns and powder, but as such was forbidden on pain of Death, and could not remain secret 
in consequence of the general conversation, they could not be obtained. This, added to the 
previous contempt, greatly augmented the hatred which stimulated them to conspire against us, 
beginning first with insults which they everywhere indiscreetly uttered, railing at us as Materiotty 2 
(that is to say) cowards — that we might, indeed be something on water, but of no account on 
land, and that we had neither a great Sachem nor Chiefs. [ Here two pages are wanting.'] 

1 Eendracht maakt ruacht — Union is strength. — Ed. 

' Apparently compounded of the Delaware words Mathah, "no;" "without;" and Otee, "Heart" or courage — a Coward. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: III. 183 

he of Witqueschreek, living N. E. of the Island Manhattan, perpetrated another murder in the 

house of an old man, a wheelwright, witli whom he was acquainted (having been in his son's 

service) ; being well received and suppled with food, and pretending a desire to buy something, 

whilst the old man was taking from the chest the cloth the Indian wanted, the latter took up 

an axe and cut his head off; moreover, plundering the house, and then ran away. This outrage 

obliged the Director to demand satisfaction from the Sachem who refused it, saying, That he 

♦Note a. was sorry twenty Christians had not been murdered * and that this Indian had 

21* AugfiMi. ° r ' only avenged the death of his Uncle who had been slain over one and twenty 

years previously by the Dutch. Whereupon, the Commonalty were called together by the 

Director to consider this affair; who all appeared and presently twelve men delegated from 

tNoteB among them, t answered the propositions, and resolved at once on war, should 

KS"!uii»n SWer <iai"d the murderer be refused ; that the attack should be made in the harvest 

when the Indians were hunting; meanwhile, an effort should be again made by 

kindness to obtain justice, which was accordingly several times sought for but in vain. 

The time being come, many obstacles arose and operations were postponed until the year 
1642, when it was resolved to avenge the perpetrated outrage. Thereupon spies looked up 
the Indians who lay in their village suspecting nothing, and eighty men were detailed and sent 
thither under the command of Ensign Hendrick van Dyck. The guide being come with the 
troops in the neighborhood of the Indian wigwams, lost his way in consequence of the darkness 
of the night. The Ensign became impatient and turned back without having accomplished 
any thing. The journey, however, was not without effect, for the Indians, who remarked by 
the trail made by our people in marching, that they had narrowly escaped discovery, sued for 
peace, which was granted them on condition that they should either deliver up the murderer 
or inflict justice themselves. This they promised, but did not keep their word. 

Some weeks after this, Miantenimo, principal Sachem of Sloops Bay, came here with one 
Eneii»h N ° Manifest hundred men, passing through all the Indian Villages! soliciting them to a 
P " ge ?Note d. general War against both the English and the Dutch, § whereupon some of the 
dated fjan>/ic42! neigh bori tig Indians attempted to set our powder on fire and to poison the Director* 
or to enchant him by their devilry, as their ill will was afterwards made manifest as well in 
fact as by report. Those of Hackingsack, otherwise called Achter Col, had, with their 
neighbors, killed an Englishman, a servant of one David Pietersz., and a few days after shot 
dead, in an equally treacherous manner, a Dutchman who sat roofing a house in the Colonie 
\f.te e. of Mvndert MevndertzJI having; settled there against the advice of the Director and the 

The order of the J J ,,,•,, . 

Directort lettered W M f the Indians, and had caused, by the continual damage the cattle committed, 

the deposition there- J •* ° 

a P aa - no little dissatisfaction to the Indians, and contributed greatly to the War. The 

Commonalty began then to be afraid, and not without reason, having the Indians daily in their 
houses. The murderers were frequently demanded, either living or dead, even with a promise 
of reward ; a scoffing answer was always returned by the Indians, who laughed at us. Finally, 
the Commonalty, seriously distrusting the Director, suspecting him of conniving with the 
_ NoteK Indians, that an attempt was making to sell Christian bloody and resolvedt 
d."gaTes" f 'i''i h ^ 2i 'hat the will of the entire Commonalty was surrendered to him, inasmuch as he 
would not avenge blood, they would do it, be the consequence what it may 
The Director hereupon advised Pacham, the Sachem, who interested himself in this matter, 
warning him that we would wait no longer, inasmuch as satisfaction had not been given. 



184 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Meanwhile God wreaked vengeance on those of Witquescheck without our knowledge 
through the Mahicanders dwelling below Fort Orange, who slew seventeen of them and made 
prisoners of many women and children ; the remainder fled through a deep snow to the houses 
of the Christians on and around the Island Manhatens. They were most humanely received, 
being half dead of cold and hunger, and supported for fourteen days; even some of the 
Director's corn was sent to them. A short time after, another panic seized the Indians, which 
caused them to fly to divers places in the vicinity of the Dutch. This opportunity to wreak 
vengeance for the innocent blood, induced some of the Twelve men to represent to the Director 
that the time was now come ; whereupon, they received for answer, that they should put their 
*Notco. request in writing; which was done, by three, in the name of all,* in a petition 

Their petition, dated .... .... 

24Feb.,i64s. to be allowed to attack those of Hackingsack, lying in two divisions — on the 

Manhatens and at Pavonia. This was granted after a protracted discussion, too long to be 
reported here, so that the design was executed that same night; the Burghers attacked those 
who lay a short mile from the fort, and the Soldiers those of Pavonia ; at which two places 
about eighty Indians were killed, and thirty were taken prisoners. Next morning, before the 
return of the troops, a man and woman were shot at Pavonia, who had come either through 
curiosity to look at, or to plunder the dead; the soldiers rescued a young child, which the 
woman had in her arms. 

Ti.eir + ^uuon and The Christians residing on Long Island also requested by petitiont to be 
FebrJary'li, iiS d allowed to attack and slay the Indians thereabout, which was refused; as these 
especially had done us no harm and showed us every friendship. (Yea, had even voluntarily 
killed some of the Raritans, our enemies, hereinbefore mentioned). Yet, notwithstanding,! 
j Note i. some Christians attempted, secretly with two wagons, to steal maize from 

See the information i-i.i ■■ i j . ., ., 

thereupon. these Indians ; which, they perceiving, endeavored to prevent; thereupon three 

Indians were shot dead ; two houses standing opposite the fort, were in return forthwith set 
on fire. The Director knowing nought of this, sent at once some persons to inquire the 
reason. The Indians showing themselves afar off, called out — Be ye our friends? Ye are 
mere corn stealers — making them also parties. This induced one of the proprietors of the burnt 
houses to upbraid, therewith, one Maryn Adriaenzen, who, at his own request, had led the 
freemen in the attack on the Indians, and who, being reinforced by an English troop, had 
afterwards undertaken two bootless expeditions in the open field. Imagining that the Director 
had accused him, being one of the signers of the petition, he determined to revenge himself. 
eK With § this resolution he proceeded to the Director's house, armed with a pistol, 
Hi» wai therefor. i oat j e( j anr J cocked, and a hanger by his side ; coming unawares into the Director's 
room, he presents his pistol at him, saying, What devilish lies art thou reporting of me? but 
by the promptness of one of the bystanders, the shot was prevented, and he arrested. A short 
time after, Marine's man and another entered the fort, each carrying a loaded gun and pistol — 
the first fired at the Director, who having had notice, withdrew to his house, the bullets passed 
into the walls along side the door behind him; the sentinel firing immediately at the fellow 
who had discharged his gun, brought him down. Shortly afterwards, some of the Commonalty 
collected before the Director, riotously demanding the prisoner; they were answered, that 
their request should be presented in order and in writing; which was done by about 25 men, 
who asked the Director to pardon the criminal. The matter was referred to them to decide 
conscientiously thereupon ; in such wise, that they immediately went forth ; without hearing 
parties or seeing any complaints or documents, they condemn him in a fine of five hundred guilders, 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: III. 185 

and to remain three months away from the Munhatens ; but on account of the importance of the 
affair, and some considerations, it was resolved to send the criminal, with his trial, to Holland, 
which 

The winter passed in this confusion, mingled with great terror; the season came for driving 
out the cattle, which obliged many to desire peace. On the other hand, the Indians seeing 
also that it was time to plant maize, were not less solicitous for a cessation of hostilities; so 
after some negotiation, peace was concluded in May, A° 1G43, rather in consequence of the 
importunity of some, than of the opinion entertained by others, that it would be durable. 

The Indians kept still after this peace, associating daily with our people; yea, even the 
greatest chiefs came to visit the Director. Meanwhile Pacham, a crafty man, ran through all 
the villages urging the Indians to a general massacre. Thereupon it happened that certain 
Indians called Wappingers, dwelling sixteen leagues up the river, with whom we never had the 
least trouble, seized a boat coming from Fort Orange, wherein were only two men, and full 

• NoteM. f our hundred beavers. This great booty stimulated others* to follow the 

Their acknowleng- o J 

u» nl Englteh* ""w example; so that they seized two boats more, intending to overhaul the fourth 
Eng'iwfstyie. 6 '' also ; from which they were driven, with loss of six Indians. Nine Christians, 
including two women, were murdered in these captured barks; one woman and two children 
remaining prisoners. The rest of the Indians, as soon as their maize was ripe, followed this 
example; and through semblance of selling beavers, killed an old man and woman, leaving 
another man with five wounds, who, however, fled to the fort, in a boat, with a little child in 
his arms, which, in the first outbreak, had lost father and mother, and now grandfather and 
grandmother ; being thus twice rescued, through God's merciful blessing, from the hands of the 
Indians; first, when two years old. Nothing was now heard but murders; most of which 
were committed under pretense of coming to put Christians on their guard. 

Finally, the Indians took the field and attacked the bouweries at Pavonia. Two ships of war 
and a privateer, were here at the time, and saved considerable cattle and grain. Probably it 
was not possible to prevent the destruction of four bouweries on Pavonia, which were burnt; 
not by open violence, but by stealthily creeping through the bush with fire in hand, and in this 
way igniting the roofs, which are all either of reed or straw; one covered with plank, was 
preserved at the time. 

The Commonalty were called together, who were sore distressed. They chose Eight,t 
tNoteN. in the stead of the previous Twelve, persons to aid in advising what was best; 

Kesolve of 18 Sept. . , . . . . 

i6«. but occupied as each one was, in taking care of his own, nothing beneficial was 

adopted at that time ; nevertheless, it was resolved that as many Englishmen as were in the 

country, should be enlisted, who were, indeed, now proposing to depart; the third part of 

these were to be paid by the Commonalty, who so promised, but the pay did not follow. 

on ihl 6th October, Terror increasing all over the land, the Eight men assembled, drew upj a 

proposal in writing wherein they demanded : that delegates should be sent to our 

English neighbors, at the North, to request an auxiliary force of one hundred and fifty men, 

for whose pay a bill of Exchange should be given for twenty-five thousand guilders; that N. 

Netherland should be mortgaged to the English as security for the payment thereof, (one of 

DstJ gib" March, tne most influential among the Eight men had, by letter, § enforced by precedents, 

previously endeavored to persuade the Director to this course; as they had 

in aJFi&Sn of resolved to do a few days before||) that the provisions destined for Curacao 

^om September, gnou |j be discharged from the vessels and the major part of the men belonging 

Vol. I. 21 



186 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

to them detained, and that the ships be sent away thus empty. This was not agreed to, 
nor deemed expedient by the Director. [ Here Jour pages are wanting.'] 

[An expedition was despatched consisting of soldiers] under the command of the 

Sergeant; XL. Burghers under Jochem Pietersen, their Captain; XXXV. Englishmen under 
Lieutenant Backster ; but to prevent all confusion, Councillor La Montagne was appointed 
General. Coming to Staten Island, they marched the whole night; the huts were found 
empty and abandoned by the Indians; they got 5 or 6 hundred skepels of corn and burnt the 
remainder without accomplishing anything else. 

Mayane, a Sachem, residing eight miles N. E. of us, between Greenwich (that lies within 
our jurisdiction) and Stantford, which is English, a fierce Indian who, alone, dared to attack 
with bow and arrows, three Christians armed with guns, one of whom he shot dead ; was, 
whilst engaged with the other, killed by the third Christian and his head brought hither. It 
was then known and understood, for the first time, that he and his Indians had done us much 
injury, though we never had any difference with him. Understanding further that they lay in 
their houses very quiet and without suspicion in the neighborhood of the English, it was 
determined to hunt them up and attack them- One hundred and twenty men were sent thither 
under the preceding command. The people landed at Greenwich in the evening from three 
yachts, marched the entire night but could not find the Indians, either because the guide had 
given warning, or had himself gone astray. Retreat was made to the yachts in order to 
depart as secretly as possible ; passing through Stantford some Englishmen were encountered 
who offered to lead ours to the place where some Indians were ; thereupon four scouts were 
sent in divers directions to make a discovery, who, on returning, reported that the Indians 
had some notice of our people from the salute the Englishmen fired, but without any certainty; 
whereupon five and twenty of the bravest men were at once commanded to proceed thither to 
the nearest village with great diligence. They made the journey, killing eighteen or twenty 
Indians, capturing an old man, two women and some children to exchange for ours. The other 
troops, on reaching the place immediately in the yachts, found the huts empty. 

The old Indian, captured above, having promised to lead us to Wetquescheck, which 
consisted of three Castles, sixty-five men were dispatched under Baxter and Peter Cock, who 
found them empty, though thirty Indians could have stood against Two Hundred soldiers, 
inasmuch as the castles were constructed of plank five inches thick, nine feet high, and braced 
around with thick plank studded with port holes. Our people burnt two, reserving the third 
for a retreat. Marching 8 or 9 leagues further, they discovered nothing but a few huts, which 
they could not surprize as they were discovered. They returned, having killed only one or 
two Indians, taken some women and children prisoners and burnt some corn. Meanwhile, we 
were advised that Pennewitz, one of the oldest and most experienced Indians in the country, 
and who, in the first conspiracy, had given the most dangerous counsel, to wit: that they 
should wait and not attack the Dutch until all suspicion had been lulled, and then divide 
themselves equally through the houses of the Christians and slaughter all of them in one 
night; was secretly waging war against us with his tribe who killed some of our people and 
set fire to the houses. It was, therefore, resolved to send thither a troop of one hundred 
and twenty men, the Burghers in their Company, the English under Sergeant Major van der 
Hyl 1 (who, a few days previously, had offered his services and was accepted), the old soldiers 

1 Capt Jno. Underbill ; for an account of whom, sec Thompton't Hittory of Long Island, 2d ed., IL — En. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS : III. 187 

under Peter Cock, all commanded by Mr. La Montagne, to proceed hence in three Yachts, land 
in Scout's Bay on Long Island, march towards Heemstede, where there is an English Colouie 
dependent on us. Some who had been sent forward in advance, dexterously killed an Indian 
who was out as a spy. Our force formed themselves into two divisions, Van der Hil with 
fourteen English towards the smallest, and Eighty men towards the largest village, named 
Matsepe ; both were very successful, killing about one hundred and twenty men; one man of 
ours remained on the field and three were wounded. 

Our forces being returned from this expedition, Captain van der Hil was dispatched to Stantfort 
to get some information there of the Indians. He reported that the guide who had formerly 
served us and had gone astray in the night, was now in great danger of his life from the 
Indians, of whom there were about five hundred together, and offered to lead us there to prove 
that the former mischance was not his fault One hundred and thirty men were accordingly 
dispatched under the aforesaid Gen 1 van der Hil and Ensign Hendrick van Dyck. They 
embarked in three yachts, landed at Greenwich, where they were obliged to pass the night 
by reason of the great Snow and Storm ; in the morning they marched N. W. up over Stony 
Hills, over which some were obliged to creep. In the evening, about eight o'clock, they came 
within a league of the Indians, and inasmuch as they should have arrived too early and had to 
cross two Rivers, one of two hundred feet wide and three deep, and that the men could not 
afterwards rest in consequence of the cold, it was determined to remain there until about ten 
o'clock. Orders having been given as to the mode to be observed in attacking the Indians, the 
men marched forward towards the huts, which were set up in three rows, street fashion, each 
Eighty paces in length, in a low recess of the mountain, affording complete shelter from the 
N. W. wind. The moon was then at the full and threw a strong light against the mountain, so 
that many winters' days were not clearer than it then was. On arriving, the enemy were found 
on the alert and on their guard, so that our people determined to charge and surround the 
huts, sword in hand. The Indians behaved like soldiers, deployed in small bands, so that we 
had in a short time one dead and twelve wounded. They were likewise so hard pressed that 
it was impossible for one to escape. In a brief space of time, one hundred and eighty were 
counted dead outside the houses. Presently none durst come forth, keeping themselves within 
the houses, discharging arrows through the holes. The General seeing that nothing else was 
to be done, resolved, with Serjeant Major Van der Hil, to set fire to the huts; whereupon the 
Indians tried every way to escape, not succeeding in which they returned back to the flames, 
preferring to perish by fire than to die by our hands. What was most wonderful is, that 
among this vast collection of Men, Women and Children, not one was heard to cry or to 
scream. According to the report of the Indians themselves, the number then destroyed 
exceeded five hundred. Some say, full 700, among whom were also 25 Wappingers, our God 
having collected together there the greater number of our enemies, to celebrate one of their 
festivals; no more than eight men in all escaped, of whom even three were severely wounded. 

The fight ended, several fires were built in consequence of the great cold ; the wounded 
fifteen in number, were dressed and sentinels having been posted by the General, the troops 
bivouacked there for the remainder of the night. On the next day, the party set out much 
refreshed in good order, so as to arrive at Stantfort in the evening. They marched with great 
courage over that wearisome mountain, God affording extraordinary strength to the wounded 
some of whom were badly hurt ; and came in the afternoon to Stantfort after a march of two 
days and one night, with little rest. The English received our people in a very friendly manner, 



188 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

affording them every comfort. In two days they reached here. A thanksgiving was proclaimed 
on their arrival. [ The remainder is wanting.] 



Resolution of the States General. 

[ From the Register of West India Affairs, 1633 — 1651, in the Royal Archives at the Hagne. ] 

Tuesday, 7 <h January 1G4S. 

roiio 804 Received a leter from Peter Stuyvesant written in New Amsterdam in New 

p. stuyvesant. Netherland the 6 ,h October 1647, and with it some enclosures respecting the 
condition and state of affairs there. Which being considered, it is resolved and concluded 
hereby to request the Mess" van der Capellen tho Ryssel and the other their High Mightinesses' 
Deputies in the matter of the reform of the direction and management of the affairs relating to 
the West India Company, with what appertains to, and depends on, them, to inspect and 
examine the same and report thereupon. 



-*-■ » < » 



^Resolution of the States General on a Petition from Neto Netherland. 

[Frtm the Register of West India Affairs, 1633 — 1651, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Saturday, ll ,h January 1648. 
Foiio 806. The petition presented to their High Mightinesses in the name and on the 

cufie^andcor'nen" behalf of Jochem Pietersen Cuyter and Cornells Melyn, inhabitants of New 
Netherland is, after consideration, placed, with the papers thereunto annexed, in 
the hands of the Mess" van der Capellen tho Ryssel and others their High Mightinesses' deputies 
in the matters concerning the Redress of the decline of the West India Company, for inspection 
and examination, to look into what has been done thereupon, to hear the Directors of the 
aforesaid Company, and to make a report of the whole. 



PAPERS RELATING TO THE CONDITION OF NEW NETHERLAND, 

And the proceedings against Cornelius Mulyn and his adherents ; marked from letter A. to letter R., 

1643—1647. 

[ From the authenticated Copy In the Royal Archives at the Hague ; Loketkat of the States General ; Division West Indieche Compagnie, No. 25. ] 

Excise Law of 1644. 

A. Whereas, the General war which we have been forced to wage against the 

surrounding Savages hath obliged us, in order to preserve the country, to employ an 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: III. 189 

extraordinary number of soldiers, who must necessarily be paid, as well as other heavy 
expenses caused by the war; to accomplish which we have spared none of the available 
means of the Honorable the West India Company, but have, in addition, been obliged to raise 
as much money as we could obtain on bills of exchange, drawn on the Hon ble the Directors ; 
and Whereas, we are now devoid of all means, and despair of immediately receiving any 
assistance from Holland, in this our necessity; therefore we are constrained to find out some 
plan to pay the soldiers, or else must dismiss them, which according to all appearances, will lead 
to the utter ruin of the country, especially as the harvest is at hand whereby people must live 
and fodder be procured for the remaining cattle ; for neither grain nor hay can be cut without 
soldiers. These matters being maturely considered, and all things being duly weighed with 
the advice of the Eight men chosen by the Commonalty, no better nor more suitable means 
can be found in the premises, than to impose some duties on those articles from which the good 
inhabitants will experience least inconvenience, as the scarcity of money is sufficiently general. 
We have, therefore, enacted and ordained, and do hereby enact and ordain, that there shall 
be paid on each half barrel of beer tapt by the tavern keepers, two guilders, one-half 
payable by the brewer and one half by the tapster ; the burgher who does not retail it, to pay 
half as much ; on each quart of Spanish wine and brandy, four stivers ; French wine, two 
stivers, to be paid by the tapsters. On each merchantable beaver purchased within our limits 
and brought here to the fort, one guilder; the three-quarters and halves in proportion. All on 
pain of forfeiture of the goods, to be prosecuted by the officer or the collector, to be thereunto 
appointed; one-third for the informer, one-third for the officer, and the remainder for the 
Hon ble Company. All this provisionally, until the good God grant us peace, or we receive 
sufficient succor from Holland. Ady 21 June. A° 1644, in New Netherland. 

The above copy written by the Director, is collated and found to agree with the original. 
Done, Manahatas, this 2S th June, A 1644. 

Copy. 

From each merchantable beaver purchased within our limits and brought here to the fort, 
fifteen stivers, the small in proportion, which shall be immediately marked, and those that will 
be found unmarked, shall be forthwith confiscated ; and all who have beavers in their 
possession, are hereby notified to come to the Receiver of the Company's customs, thereunto 
appointed, and to have them marked, or agree upon a commutation, all on pain of confiscation. 
Let every one be hereby warned, and protect himself from loss. 24 June, 1644. 

The above copy written by the Director, is collated and found to agree with the original. 
Done Manahatas, this 28 June, 1644. 

(Signed) Jochum Pietersen Kuiter, 

the mark J*, of Ment Dirks, 1 
made by himself. 

' Sie. Intended for Barent Dircks. — Ed. 



190 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

The Eight Men to the Assembly of the XIX. 

B. Honorable, Wise, prudent Gentlemen of the XIX. of the General Incorporated 

West India Company at the Chamber in Amsterdam. 

Honorable Gentlemen ! 

Rightly hath one of the ancients said, that there is no misery on earth however great that 
does not manifest itself in time of war. We, poor inhabitants of New Netherland, now complain 
that having enjoyed for a long time an indifferent peace with the heathen, Almighty God finally, 
through his righteous judgment, hath in this current year kindled around us the fire of an Indian 
war in which not only numbers of innocent people, men, women and children, have been 
murdered in their houses and at their work, and swept into captivity (whereby this place with 
all its inhabitants is come to the greatest ruin); but all the Bouweries and Plantations at 
Pavonia, with 25 lasts l of grain and other produce are burnt and the cattle in part destroyed by 
the Indians. 

Coming next to Long Island : It also is stripped of people and cattle, except a few insignificant 
places, over against the main, which are about to be abandoned. The English who have 
settled among us have not escaped. They too. except at one place, are all murdered and burnt. 
Staten Island, where Cornelis Melyn settled, is unattacked as yet, but stands hourly expecting 
an assault. On the Island of the Manachatas, from the north even unto the Fresh Water, there 
are no more than five or six spots inhabited at this date. These are threatened by the Indians 
every night with fire, and by day with the slaughter of both people and cattle. Achter Col 
where the Honb le Mr. Van der Horst founded a Colonie, is altogether ruined, so that we have 
no other place of shelter remaining for ourselves, our wives and children, than around and 
adjoining Fort Amsterdam at the Manahactas. The enemy experiences no resistance, through 
want of men, arms, and ammunition with which this place is very poorly supplied. The Fort 
is defenceless and entirely out of order, and resembles (with submission) rather a molehill 
than a fort against an enemy. These Indians are, on the contrary, strong and mighty ; have, 
one with the other, made alliances with more than seven different tribes well supplied with 
guns, powder and ball, which they to their hearts' content have procured and still daily receive 
from private traders in exchange for beavers, and with which they murder our people. The 
woods and thickets are now very useful to them; they have removed all their women, children 
and old men into the interior, the rest of the most expert warriors hang daily on our necks, 
with fire and sword, and threaten to attack the Fort with all their force, which now consists 
of about 1500 men ; this we hourly expect, for all the outside places are mostly in their power. 
It is owing entirely to their pleasure if any cattle are found alive throughout the entire country. 

Your Honors can easily conceive how wretchedly it fares with us, distressed people, and the 
whole country, for the growth and prosperity thereof consists chiefly in men, cattle and houses, 
in which we, jointly and severally, have exhausted all the means we have been able to realize. 
The population is composed mainly of women and children; the freemen (exclusive of the 
English) are about 200 strong, who must protect by force their families now skulking in straw 
huts outside the Fort; the cattle are partly burnt and killed, what remains has been conveyed 
to the Fort on the Manahates, where for want of food they must starve this coming winter, if 

1 A last is equal to 80 English bushels, Holtrop's Dutch Dictionary. — Ed. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: III. 19 

not immediately slaughtered. The most of the houses have been fired and destroyed, those 
still standing are in danger of being also burnt. It is likewise to be apprehended that this will 
be but the beginning of our troubles, for, as these Indians with their weapons kill our people, 
one after another [it is to be feared] that they will next with guns destroy us, our wives and 
children, while the men are ruined, the grain and other produce burnt, very little saved, not 
even a plough can be put in the ground this fall, so that not 100 skepels will be sown in this 
neighborhood, and consequently much less in the spring, and were any provisions to be obtained 
from the English, in the East, we know not wherewith we, poor people, will pay for them, 
whilst the private traders have by their unnatural extortions for the last three or four years, 
utterly drained us, and impoverished this country; for such must be the result so long as 
industry is obliged to stand still in the land. 

Cattle destroyed, houses burnt ; the mouths of women and children must remain shut. We 
speak not now of other necessaries, such as clothing, shirts, shoes and stockings, In fine, it is 
like to happen, that it will be with us, according to the words of the Prophet, Whoso draweth 
the sword, shall perish of hunger and cold. 

We turn, then, to your Honors; we humbly pray and beseech you to be pleased to help us 

in this distressed plight, and with the first opportunity to assist us with such aid as your Honors 

may, in your wisdom, consider best, as we have also by this opportunity set forth in a 

Remonstrance and petition to their High Mightinesses 1 ; so that this place, and all of us, with 

wives and children, may not be delivered over a prey to these cruel heathen, whereupon we 

rely. Underneath was written. We remain your Honors' faithful subjects, lawfully elected 

and authorized by the Hon hle the Director and Council, and the entire Commonalty of New 

Netherland. 

(Signed) Cornelis Meltn, Gerrit Wolphertsen, 

Abraham Pietersen, Isack Allerton, 

Done Manahatas this 24 lh October Thomas Hal, Jan Evertse Bout, 

in New Netherland, Anno 1643. Barent Dircksen, Jochem Pietersen. 



Resolution adopted by the Commonalty of the Manhattans. 

C. We, the undersigned, having appeared at the Fort at the request of the Hon bl " 

Director and Council, to express our opinions on their proposition, they have required us to elect 

five or six persons from among ourselves to weigh maturely the articles laid before us ; wherefore 

have we considered it wise on so doing to leave to the Director and Council the execution 

thereof; namely, the selection of those persons, provided that we shall be at liberty to reject 

the person or persons against whom there may be anything to object, and who are not 

agreeable to us. 

Cornelis Melyn, Pieter Linde, 

This is the mark /} of Wolphert Gerrits, 



4 



This is the mark p of Barent Dircksen, 
Jan Snedeker, Sibert Clasen, 

Abram Planck, Cornelis Wiletnsen, 

This is the mark T of Louis Crain, 1 

1 See supra, p. 189.— Ed. 



192 



NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 



This is the mark ~[. 
This is the mark + 
This is the mark A 

PlETER COLET, 

Jan Jansen Damen, 

CORNELIS Voi-CKERS, 

Isack de Forest, 
This is the mark QJm> 
This is the mark *S/. 

This is the mark ~-+\ 

Barent Jansen, 
Thomas Hall, 
Wilheim Gaulders, 
This is the mark X 

by me, 
H 

Xi 
A 



This is the mark 
This is the mark 
This is the mark 
This is the mark T 
Benjamin Pawley, 

This is the mark "H^ 

This is the mark p 
This is the mark H 

This is the mark (y 
This is the mark X 
Jan Pathaway, 



of CORNELIS LAMBERTSEN CoOL, 

of Cornelis Jacobsen Stille, 
of Abraham Jacobse, 

Abraham Pietersen, 
Heindrick Heindricksen Kvpe, 
govert loockemans, 
isack allerton, 

of Claes Caerlessen, 

of Claes Montelaar, 

Jacob Couwenhoven, 
of Gerrit Wolpherts, 

WlLLEM ADRIAENSEN, 

Claes Jansen Ruter, 
Jan Verbauge, 
of George Hans [Holmes?] 

Cornelis Dircksen Hoochlant, 
of Hans Hansen, 
of Thomas Sandersen, 
of Ambrosius Loman, 
of Jan Picces, 
Richard, 

of Pieter Adriaensen, 

of RlTCHERT CoLFECX, 

of Heyndrick Heyndricksen, 

Cornelis Twits, 2 
of Lawrens Pietersen, 
of Cornelis Souleman, 

P. R. GlCHHOUS. 



Certificate of the Election of the Eight Men. 

I>. We, the undersigned, do declare that we have elected Joachim Pietersen, Jan 

Damen, Barent Dircksen, Abraham Pietersen, Isack Allerton, Thomas Hal, Gerrit Wolphertsen 
and Cornelis Melyn, to consult on and maturely to consider the propositions submitted to us 
by the Director and Council of New Netherland, approving hereby what the aforesaid persons 
shall treat and determine in the premises. 

Phlipe Grave, 
This is the mark A of Ambrosius Lonnen, 

This is the mark + of Cornelis Swilwan, 

Benjamyn Pawley, William Goulder, 



1 In the next document this name is Tennis Cray. 



* Qu ? Swits. — Ed. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: III. 



193 



This is the mark 
This is the mark 
This is the mark 
This is the mark 



P of Laurens Pietersen, 
of Jan Haer, 
X q of Thomas Sanderson, 
^^ of Isack de Forest, 

Peter Colet, 
T of Teunis Cray, 
This is the mark ©■ — r — -»,of Jacob Stoffelsen, 

Cornelis Willemsen, Pieter Linde, 



Albert Jansen, 
This is the mark 



# 



This is the mark 

John Pathaway, 
This is the mark f 

This is the mark ^ 

Jacob Couwenhoven, 



of Claes Carstersen, 

Ritchert Gebbers, 
of Piccis, 

of Abraham Jacobsen, 

Reiner Jansen, 
Jan Verbrugh, 



This is the mark / j/ of Wolphert Gerritsen, 

GOVERT LOOCKEMANS, 

This is the mark B 



WlLLEM ADRIAENSEN, 

of Goris Bastelaer, 



This is the mark ^— I — ^ of Egbert Woutersen, 



And whereas, the aforesaid elected men have unanimously resolved, for certain reasons them 
thereunto moving, to exclude Jan Damen, they have unanimously determined to choose, as 
they do hereby choose, Jan Evertsen Bout to consult with them, in the stead of the said Jan 
Damen, upon what they will deem to appertain to the public service. 

Petition for leave to attack the Indians. 

E. To the Honorable William Kieft, Director General of New Netherland, and 

his Hon ble Council. 

The whole of the freemen respectfully represent, that though heretofore much innocent 

blood was spilled by the Savages without having had any reason or cause therefor, yet your 

Honors made peace on condition that the chiefs should deliver the murderer into our hands, 

(either dead or alive,) wherein they have failed, up to the present time; the reputation which 

our nation hath in other countries, has thus been diminished, even, notwithstanding innocent 

blood calleth aloud to God for vengeance ; we therefore request your Honors to be pleased to 

authorize us to attack the Indians as enemies, whilst God hathfully delivered them into our 

hands, for which purpose we offer our persons. This can be effected, at the one place by the 

freemen, and at the other by the soldiers. Lower was written : Your Hono" subjects, and 

was subscribed, 

Maryn Adriaensen, 

Jan Jansen Dames, and 

Abraham Planck. 

Lower stood: By their authority, (Signed) Cornells van Tenhoven, Secretary. 

Vol. T. 25 



194 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Commission to Maryn Adriaensen to attack the Indians at Corlaer's Hook. 

F. Whereas the good inhabitants here are obliged to reside on their properties up 

to the present time in great alarm, and cultivate with caution the soil through dread of the 
Indians who now and again have in a cowardly manner murdered some of our nation (without 
having any reason therefor), and we cannot obtain any satisfaction for the blood by peaceable 
means; therefore arms must be had recourse to, in order to vindicate the justice of our cause, 
so that we may live in peace here, with full confidence that God will give a blessing to our 
resolution, the rather, as the good Commonalty themselves solicit its execution ; wherefore we 
hereby authorize and empower, as we do hereby authorize and empower at his request, Maryn 
Adriaensen and associates, to attack a party of Indians lying behind Corlaer's plantation, 
and to act with them as they think, proper, and time and circumstances will permit. The 25 ,b 
February, 1643. 

(Signed) Willem Kieft. 

Agrees with the original, (Signed) Cornelis van Tienhoven, Secretary. 

Sundry Declarations respecting Conversations with Director Kieft. 

G-. Before me Cornelis van Tienhoven, Secretary of New Netherland, appeared 

Jan Evertsen Bout, aged about forty years, who at the request of Cornelis Leendertsen, 
deposes, testifies and declares, as he doth hereby testify and declare in the place, and with the 
promise, of a solemn oath if necessary and so required ; that it is true, that on Wednesday, 
being the first day, he, the deponent, heard the Director Kieft say, whilst sitting on a gun at 
the bastion of the fort where the flag staff stands: "Jan Eversen, how d'ye do?" To 
which the deponent answered. "Well, but weak in heart and courage." The Director 
replied, " I have wherewith to defend my conscience, namely Maryn Adriaensen, Jan Damen 
and the man over there, your neighbor," and divers other remarks, all which the deponent 
declares to be true; also, that he hath done this to bear testimony to the truth, through love 
or hatred of no man. Done the 27 lh March, 1643, in New Netherland, on the Island Manhatans. 

Jan Evertsen Bout. 
To my knowledge; Cornelis van Tienhoven, Secretary. 

II. Before me Cornelis van Tienhoven, Secretary of New Netherland, appeared 

Jacob Stoffelsen, aged about 42 years, who at the request of Cornelis Leendersen, deposes and 
declares as he hereby doth, that it is true that he, the deponent, coming in the forenoon of the 
day after the attack on the Indians, in company with Gerrit Dircksen and Cornelis Arensen, 
across the bastion of the fort, this deponent said to Director Kieft : "You have done fine 
work;" the Director gave for answer, "you must blame the freemen." All which he, the 
deponent, declares to be fact and truth; and that he hath done this to give evidence of 
the truth, for love or hatred of no man, solely because he hath been requested; thereunto the 
deponent adheres. Done the 27 th March, 1643, in New Netherland, on the Island Manhatans. 

This I - a is the mark of Jacob Stoffelsen. 
To my knowledge, Cornelis van Tienhoven, Secretary. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: III. 195 

I. Before me Cornelia van Tienhoven, Secretary of New Netherland, appeared 

Cornelia Arissen, aged about 36 years, who, at the request of Cornells Leendersen, deposes, 
testifies and declares, in the place, and with the promise of solemn oath, if necessary, that it is 
true that he accompanied Jacob StofFelsen and Gerrit Dyrcksen into the fort on the day after 
the attack on the Indians, and there heard the Director say: " 'Tis the fault of the freemen 
that the Indians were attacked — but your neighbor, Abraham Planck, was well aware of it, 
who might have warned you." All which deponent declares to be fact and truth. Done in 
fort Amsterdam, the 2S ,h March, 1643, in New Netherland. 

This f | -y is the mark of 

>J Cornelis Arissen. 
To my knowledge, (Signed) Cornelis van Tienhoven, Secretary. 



K. Before me Cornelis van Tienhoven, Secretary of New Netherland, appeared 

Pieter Cornelissen, aged about 36 years, who, at the request of Cornelis Leendersen, deposes, 
testifies and declares, as he doth hereby in place, and with promise of a solemn oath, if necessary, 
that it is true that Peter Cornelissen, aforesaid, had a conversation with the Director, respecting 
what occurred between our Nation and the Indians. The deponent inquired : " How it 
occurred?" The Director answered : " It was petitioned for in the name of the Commonalty, 
by three persons, (without naming any one) being three of the Twelve elected men." To 
which this deponent replied — "Your Honor had forbidden them to meet on pain of corporal 
punishment; how came it, then?" The Director rejoined — "It is probably so." Which 
the deponent declares to be true. Done, the 28 th March, A 1643, in fort Amsterdam. 

(Signed) Pieter Cornelissen. 
To my knowledge, (Signed) Cornelis van Tienhoven, Secretary. 

L. Before me Cornelis van Tienhoven, Secretary of New Netherland, appeared 

Gerrit Dircksen Blauw, who at the request of Cornelis Leendersen, deposes, testifies and 
declares in the place, and with promise of a solemu oath, if necessary and required ; that it is 
true that he, with Cornelis Arissen and Jacob Stofielsen, met the Director in the fort, the day 
after the Indians were attacked, when he, the deponent, addressed his Honor, saying: " You 
have now done fine work, in causing the murder of Christian blood;" alluding to his stepson, 
who had been killed by the Indians. The Director gave for answer — " You must put 
the blame on the freemen, of whom your neighbor Abraham Planck is one." Which the 
deponent declares to be true. Done the 2S ,h March, A° 1643, in New Netherland. 

(Signed) Gerrit Dircksen Blauw. 
To my knowledge, (Signed) Cornelis van Tienhoven, Secretary. 

Interrogatories to be jnoposcd to Fiscal Heindrick van Dyck. 

Article 1. 
HI. Is he not well aware that the late Director General Kieft, did, on the night 

between the 24"' and 25 th February, in the year 1643, send a party of Soldiers over to Pavonia 
by the bouwery of Jan Evertzoon, and behind Curler's plantation on the Island of Manhatans 
and cause them to kill a party of Indians, with women and children, who lay there? 



196 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

2. 
Did Mr. Kieft previously propose this expedition to the Council, and subsequently 
communicate it to him as Officer of the Soldiers, which he then was; and did he vote for it? 

3. 

Were not the Indians much embittered by this act ; and did not the general war between 
our Christians and these Americans follow the next day, and date its commencement from 
that time ? 

4. 

Is it not also true, that all those Indians had fled to the above described place some days 
before, through dread of the Maicanders ; in the hope of being protected by our people from 
their enemies? 

5. 

Did not we, the Dutch, in this country, live in peace with these Indians before and until 
this cruel deed had been wrought on them over at Pavonia and on the Island Manhatans? 

Interrogatories to be proposed to Mr. Cornells van der HoyMns. 

Article 1. 

Did he approve the levying of the contributions which the late Director General Kieft 
imposed on those Americans in the year 1639? 

2. 
Was it ever before proposed in Council by the said Kieft, and was it approved by that body? 

3. 
Did not he (the witness) well remark that this tax had in general excited great animosity 
among those natives, so that the Raritans shortly after killed four of our people on Staten 
Island ? 

4. 
Did not Mr. Kieft on the night of the 24th February, 1643, cause a party of Indians, our 
friends, to be massacred with women and children in their sleep, over at Pavonia and behind 
Corlaer's plantation ? 

5. 
Did Mr. Kieft previously propose this expedition to the Council, and was it approved by 
witness, as fiscal at that time, and by the other members of the Council ? 

6. 
Is it not true that the Indians were much exasperated against us on account of this murder, 
so that the general war between them and our people followed on the next day ? 

7. 
Did not the Dutch nation in this country live in peace with those Indians before this cruel 
deed had been committed against them ? 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: III. 197 

8. 
Did not those Indians fly to those two places above named through fear of their enemies, in 
full confidence of hiding among, and of being protected by, us ? 

Interrogatories to be proposed to Dr. Johannes de la Montaigne. 

Article 1. 
Did he vote for, and approve of, the maize tax in the year 1639 ? 

2. 

Was it ever before proposed in their Council, and now when Mr. Kieft had imposed 
contributions on those natives, did he (La M.) not say in the presence of several persons : — that 
by those proceedings, a Bridge had been built, over which War would soon stalk through the 
country ? 

3. 

Does he know from what cause originated the first trouble between our people and the 

Raritan Indians ? 

4. 

Was not that difficulty with the Raritans, as well as the one with these of Wicguaesgeck 
again settled, and peace made in the beginning of the year 1642? 

5. 

Were not we, the Dutch, then living in peace with all those surrounding Indians, the 

Yaccinsack murderer excepted ? 

6. 

Is it to his knowledge that Jan Clasen Daem, Maryn Adriaensen and Abram Planck presented 
a petition to the late Director General Kieft, and did he approve of the answer thereto? 

7. 
Did he not at that time object to the petitioners these and similar considerations — namely, 
that such an important matter ought to be more deliberately weighed before it should be 
determined on. Also, that the peculiarity of places should be considered ; whether we could 
extricate our people who had settled at a far distance ; also, the question of force and munitions 
of war ; whether we could indeed defend ourselves and continue the war? 

8. 

Is it true that Director Kieft made answer to this in his room, in the presence of Jan Claesen 
Daem, Abraham Planck, and Maryn Adriaensen, who had already obtained his written reply 
to the petition — " The word has gone forth ; it must remain out?" 

9. 
By whose order were the Indians, with their wives and children, killed over at Pavonia, and 
behind Corlaer's hook on the Island of Manhatans, between the 24 th and 25 ,h February, 1643? 

10. 
Did he vote for it and was it subsequently resolved in the lawful Council ? 



198 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

11. 
Were not our surrounding Indians and neighbors very much exasperated against us on account 
of this murder, so that the general war broke out the next day ? 

12. 
Did we not, up to this time, before this deed was committed, live in peace with all those 
Americans, the Haccinsack murderer excepted ? 

13. 
Is it not true, that all those Indians had fled to the two places abovementioned, through fear 
of the Mahicanders, in the hope of being protected by our people from their enemies? 

Interrogatories to be proposed to Secretary Cornells van Tienhoven. 

Article 1. 
Can he, the Secretary, not fluently speak the Manhatans language, which was used by the 

Indians hereabout? 

2. 

Did he not, therefore, act as interpreter to the late Director General Kieft, with those Indians? 

3. 

In what year was he sent to those Natives to collect the contribution of maize from them ; 
if he was not employed, who then was? 

4. 

To how many tribes was this done ; and how are they named? 

5. 
Did those Indians willingly consent to this contribution; or did they then protest 
against it; and what were their debates about it? 

6. 

Can he report in writing — if not, verbally — the result of this mission, which Mr. Kieft 
entrusted to him ? 

7. 

In what terms did he endeavor to persuade the Indians to consent to the contribution ? 

8. 
In what year was he, deponent, sent by Mr. Kieft to the Raritanus ; and did he not go 
there with a party of armed soldiers and sailors under the command of Heindrich, captain of 
the Neptunus? 

9. 

What order did the Director give him, the Secretary, particularly in this case; and how 
did he execute it? 

10. 

Did Mr. Kieft give any different orders to the soldiers generally, when they stood in front of 
the Director's house, previous to setting out? 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: III. 199 

11. 
Were not similar expeditions sent out in the same year against the Raritans; and does he 
know what was the reason and object of them ; and what was then accomplished? 

12. 

Did not the Raritans revenge themselves the next year; killing four Christians, on Staten 
Island; and did they not afterwards destroy the houses of David Pietersen ? 

13. 

Was not that difficulty sometime after entirely settled with the Raritans; so that they have 
remained quiet, on their side, to the present time? 

14. 

In what year did he, the Secretary, make the peace with the Wicquaesgeckers, at the 
house of the late Jonas Bronck? 

15. 

After the difficulty with the Raritans and with the Wicquaesgeckers had been arranged and 
peace concluded, did not our people live in peace, in the year 1642, with all those surrounding 
Natives, the Hackinsack murderer exccepted ? 

16. 

Did he, the Secretary, not write a petition, on 24 th February, 1643, on the subject of this 
war with those Natives for Maryn Adriaensen, Jan, Claesen Daem and Abram Planck ; and 
by whose order, or at whose request, was it sent? 

17. 
Did he copy the aforesaid petition from another's draft, or did he draw it up himself; was it 
conceived by himself, or did he, in accordance with his duty, first submit the draft to the 
Director before it was signed ? 

IS. 

For what reason, and by whose authority did he, the Secretary, insert the words — " the 
whole of the Commonalty or free people and by their order" — in the petition, when he, 
indeed, well knew that no person either without, or on, the Manhatans had any knowledge of 
it except Director Kieft, he, the Secretary, and those three petitioners; also, that he should 
have considered that an affair of such importance, so productive of heavy loss to the Hon ble 
Company and the inhabitants in this country, ought not to have been undertaken on the 
simple representation of those three men. 

19. 

Was not he, the Secretary, sent by Mr. Kieft, on the 24th February, in the year 1643, with 
one Corporal Hans Steen, over to Pavonia, to the Indians who lay near Jan Evertsen 
Bout's bouwery ? 

20. 

For what purpose and with what instructions did they go there? 



200 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

21. 
Did they faithfully report at that time to Mr. Keift, how many different tribes of Indians 
were then together there ; and can he enumerate them ? 

22. 

Did not these Indians fly thither through dread of the Maykanders, who were at that time 
their enemies, in the hope of being protected by our people? 

23. 
Is it not true, that a troop of armed soldiers were sent by order of Mr. Kieft, on the next 
night to the aforesaid place, and a party of freemen behind Corlear's plantation on the 
Manhatans, who slew a large number of these Indian refugees, and afterwards burnt all 

their huts? 

24. 

Is it not true also, that the general war between us, the Dutch, and those Americans, here 
around the Manhatans, first originated from this offense? 

25. 
Does he, the deponent, also know whether the scheme of the contributions and of this 
expedition was ever approved and set on foot in the regular Council ? 

Interrogatories for the Reverend Everardus Bogardus, Minister of the flock of Jesus Christ here on 

the Manhatans. 

Article 1. 
Was not your Reverence in the room with the late Director General Kieft when the three 
men, namely, Maryn, Adriaensen, Jan Claessen Daem, and Abram Planck, presented their 
petition respecting the demand for the war against the Natives? 

2. 
Is the conversation between Mr. Kieft and the three men on that occasion still fresh in your 

Reverence's memory ? 

3. 

Can he, the witness, conscientiously and solemnly declare before God, verbally or in writing, 
all that then transpired in the room, between these five persons, respecting the War? 

Interrogatories for Jan Claessen Daem and Abram Planch, freemen at the Manhatans. 

Article 1. 
Did not they, the witnesses, in company with one Maryn Adriaensen, present to Mr. Kieft, 
in February, 1643, a certain petition respecting the war against our Americans? 

2. 

By whose order and by what authority did they do so, and who prompted them thereunto, 
that they inserted in the petition the words — Of the whole of the freemen. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS : III. 



201 



Was there any other person in the room with Mr. Kieft when they presented the aforesaid 
petition? 

4. 

By whom was the petition drawn, or did they request the writer to doit; or was he 
authorized by any person to that effect ? 



Do they, the witnesses, likewise know that the aforesaid petition was copied by another, or 
did the writer draw it up of himself? 

6. 
Did they, the witnesses, get an answer from Mr. Kieft on the same day, or was it when 
Councillor Johan de la Montaigne came from his bouwery to Mr. Kieft? 

7. 

Did not Councillor de la Montaigne remark, on their petition, that they ought to reflect 
well before beginning the war, whether we could undertake by ourselves to protect those who 
were dwelling afar off; also, if we had men and ammunition enough to defend ourselves, and 
to continue until help be received from Holland ? 



Also, is it not true, that Mr. Kieft replied to this — " The word has gone forth; it must 
remain so" — and had they not then already obtained in writing Mr. Kieft's answer to the 
petition? 



Petition of the Twelve Men and the Answer thereto. 



TotheHon ble Willem Kieft, Director General 
and the Council residing in New 
N. Netherland on the behalf of the General 
Incorporated West India Company. 



We, the undersigned, Selectmen on behalf 
of the Commonalty of New Netherland, 
respectfully represent that it is highly necessary 
that your Honors do order a general Muster to 
take place once every year, under arms, on 
condition that at the muster half a pound of 
powder shall be given each man on the part 
of the Company. 

2. 



1. 

Orders shall be issued for an Annual muster, 
for which a plan was agreed on long ago ; but 
i pound of powder to each man can be ill 
afforded, as provision must be made for the 
day of need, for which we must, above all 
things, prepare. Each I'atroon's establishment 
must provide for its own defence. 



The petitioners respectfully request that We should willinglyconsent, but it is in direct 
every freeman be at liberty, once for all, opposition to superior orders, as many of the 
Vol. I. 2G 



202 



NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 



without any one's consent, to visit, on their 
arrival, all ships, yachts and sloops, coming 
here from sea, whether they be Dutch, 
English or French, &c, after the fiscal shall 
have been on board, according to the custom 
in Holland. 



Company's ships will probably come here with 
prizes, and it %vould create great disorder. If 
application for the purpose be made, once for 
all, to the Director or Fiscal, permission will 
be granted unless weighty objections exist. 



Also, that the Council of New Netherland 
shall from this time be rendered complete in 
members, especially as the council of a small 
village in Fatherland consists of five (aX seven 
Schepens ; also, that from now henceforth the 
Director and Council do not try any criminals 
unless five councillors be present, inasmuch 
as the Commonalty talk considerably about it. 

Also if your Honors please to choose four 
persons who shall have access to the Council 
here, as your Honors formerly proposed, we 
should be much gratified, so that taxes may 
not be imposed on the country in the absence 
of the Twelve. 



Also that every inhabitant of New 
Netherland, be he who he may, shall be 
henceforward at liberty to resort, go to and 
return from all places in this neighborhood 
and to our friends, and allies without notifying 
or asking any one ; and to repair to all such 
places as he shall derive most advantage from, 
on condition of first receiving a regular pass 
and clearance from your Honors and paying 
therefor all such duties as to the Hon ble 
Company shall appertain. 

In case your Honors choose four of the fittest 
to appear in your Council, as stated, it remains 
to be noted that two of the four retire every 
year and two others be chosen in their stead 
out of the 12. 



Letters have been sent to Holland, so that we 
expect to receive some persons of rank by the 
first ships, and thus have a complete Council. 

That the Commonalty should comment 
considerably on the smallness of the Council 
can well be, but we wish very much to know 
whether any one has cause tocomplain of unjust 
decisions, and who those are who talk 
considerably thereof? 

We are fully satisfied to choose 4 persons, 
toassistin maintainingtheCommonalty in their 
right, and whom we will invite to our Council, 
when necessity requires ; also to fix upon 
certain periods of the year to meet together on 
public business and to conclude on some 
articles as to the extent of their powers. As 
regards the 12 men, we are not aware that 
they received fuller powers from the 
Commonalty than simply to give their advice 
respecting the murder of the late Claes Swits. 

Granted, provided the Hon ble Company 
receive their dues and that the goods be not 
sent to an enemy. 



We are fully content that two of the four 
be annually changed. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: III. 203 

Likewise, as we all aim at and expect, with We shall prevent, as much as possible, the 
God's blessing, the increase of the cattle, so it sale here of any English cows or goats, 
is, that heretofore the English have sold cows, 
bulls and goats, whereby ours have fallen into 
disrepute and are not as much valued as 
formerly. It is therefore solicited that 
henceforth no cows or goats be sold here by 
the English ; only oxen and he goats. 

Also, that the value of money be raised in We shall raise the currency; the placards 
order that it be retained here and not exported are prepared for that purpose, 
hence by foreign nations. All which we the 
petitioners pray may be duly considered by 
your Honors, and trust that herein shall be 
done what will be most beneficial for the 
Inhabitants. Done the 21 January, 1642. 
Was subscribed by divers persons. 

Order dissolving the Board of Twelve Men. 

And whereas the Commonalty at our request appointed and instructed these 12 men to 
communicate their good counsel and advice on the subject of the murder of the late Claes 
Cornelissen Swits, which was committed by the Indians; this being now completed by them, 
we do hereby thank, them for the trouble they have taken, and shall, with God's help, make 
use of their rendered written advice in its own time. The said Twelve men shall now, 
henceforth hold no further meeting, as the same tends to a dangerous consequence, and to the 
great injury both of the country and of our authority. We therefore, hereby forbid them 
calling any manner of assemblage or meeting, except by our express order, on pain of being 
punished as disobedient subjects. Done in fort Amsterdam, this eighth of February, 1642, in 
New Netherland. 

By order of the Hon ble Director and Council of New Netherland, 

(Signed) Corxelis vax Tiexhovex, Secretary. 



Ex-Director Kieft to Director Stuyvesant. 

To Myn Heer General and the Hon ble Council. 

O. Hon ble gentlemen. Whereas Jochem Pietersen and Cornells Melyn have sent some 

letters to Holland to the Directors, in the name of the Eight men ; amongst others, one dated 
2S lh October, 1644, containing nothing but libels and lies. To point out all these here, would 
take up too much space. I shall enumerate only some few: 

1. 

First : they say, we could bring into the field 400 men on the arrival of the Blue Cock, and 
that we neglected the opportunity to attack the Indians. 



204 NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

2. 

Secondly: that they have not been able to obtain a single man for defence. 

3. 
That no care is taken any more of the country. 

4 - 
That princely power was usurped. 

5. 

That the Eight men received foul taunts and reproaches when assembled, and that they 
scarcely dare open their mouths. 

6. 

That they conceded our proposal of the excise. 

7. 
That the little Book treating of the war, contained as many lies as lines. 

8. 

That the Indians were previously like lambs, and that men were seized with a rash hankering 
for war, and by an accursed act had murdered the Indians. 

9. 

That 2,500 pounds of powder had been received in store, and not 500 pounds used against 
the Indians. 

10. 

That skipper Laurens could notdefend his case, in consequence of the Director's authority, etc. 

We are prepared to prove that these are all false calumnies and lies. Your Hon" can well 
infer what the rest are. We have, in the writing hereunto annexed, answered in all respects 
these two fine gentlemen of whom the Directors have warned us, according to their letters 
exhibited to your Honors. 

They dispatched in an irregular manner and clandestinely sent off", that libellous letter; 
deceived the good people whose names they used; who, according to their own declarations, 
were not aware that it contained such scandalous things. Jacob Stoffelse and lsack Allerton 
principally implored the people to sign — yea, even after the letter was off to Holland, they 
suborned, according to Melyn's own acknowledgment, the Secretary's clerk, and caused him 
also to sign, thus abusing our Lords Patroons, making them believe that the original letter was 
subscribed by the Eight men, cheating the good people, and endeavoring with false and bitter 
poison, to calumniate their magistrates and to bring them into difficulty; wherefore we demand 
justice, in order that our innocence may be known both here and in Holland, and their 
falsehood punished, that the Fiscal may prosecute them according to the heinousness of 
their crimes; also, that they be required to prove said letter, and to exhibit the copy of it 
which they sent off by the Blue Cock, and to which the Directors refer. Which hoping. Ady 
lS th June, 1647, New Amsterdam. 

Your Hon" ever ready servant, 

(Signed) Willem Kieft. 

This is found, on collating, to agree with the original, the 19 th June, Anno, 16-17. 

(Signed) Cornelis van Tienhoven, Secretary. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: III. 205 

Messrs. Jochem Pielerscn Kuijter and Cornells Melyn to Director Stuyvesant. 

P. To the Hon ble Peter Stuyvesant, Director General of New Netherland, Curasao 

and the Islands thereabout, and to the Hon ble Council. 

Hon bIe Gentlemen ! 

The written demand of the late Director General Kieft was sent to us by the Court messenger 
about 9 o'clock on the 19 th June of this year, 1644, with express orders to answer thereunto 
within twice 24 hours. Coming then to the point — 

Mr. Kieft says in his first statement that Jochem Pietersen and Cornells Melyn sent some 
letters to the Honorable Directors in Holland in the name of the Eight men, containing nothing 
but libels and lies, etc. 

It was not under, nor in the name of the Eight men, but by their previously determined 
counsel and resolution, word for word, conjointly approved and signed by them. We shall, 
therefore, without any glossing or circumlocution, simply answer according to our ability his 
Hon" proposed articles. 

1. Your Honors will please to know, as regards the 400 men who could be brought into the 
field on the arrival of the Blue Cock, that we doubt not but we were informed of it by his 
Honor himself and Captain de Vries told us so. They admit first, that 130 soldiers had come 
in the Blue Cock, commanded by the aforesaid Captain. 2°. There were yet also at that 
time between 40 and 50 old soldiers, exclusive of the English who, according to our best 
judgment, were full 50 strong. There were, likewise, at this time, between 50 and 60 sailors 
or seafaring people, who were willing to, as they sometime afterwards did, serve the 
commonwealth. We do not include the crew of the Blue Cock. 3°. The Hon ble Mr. Kieft 
also allowed, in two places, as is to he seen in Carta A. B., for two hundred freemen and 
Company's servants, and thus, whenever a calculation in gross is made from what we have 
enumerated, it will, without making a very strict examination, be found that probably between 
3 and 400 men could be brought before many days into the field against the enemy, as stated 
in the letter; and yet they could miss the few opportunities which they still possessed to 
restore, through God's mercy, a desirable peace to this country; as Mr. Kieft himself hath 
written in a letter of the 2L July, 1644, (marked C.) And whilst that was neglected, our 
people were killed and murdered within a few weeks, at divers places without the Fort, by the 
Indians who, for all that, gathered in safety their maize and other necessaries in the meantime. 
We, on the other hand, continued in the greatest terror, with the cattle which still remained ; 
ami in the heat of the war complained, and do still complain, to our Lords Patroons, to wit: 
to the Noble Lords Majors, but not to foreigners, nor to the enemies of the United Netherlands. 

2. Your Honors will please to observe in the two remonstrances or protests of Thomas Hall 
and the late Barent Dircksen, what defence or assistance was furnished to any of ours at 
that time. 

3. The piles of ashes from the burnt houses, barns, barracks and other buildings, and the 
bones of the cattle, more than sufficiently demonstrate the ordinary care that was bestowed 
on the country, God help it, particularly during the war. We respectfully request your Honors 
to institute a rigid inquiry into this matter : How many first class Bouweries and plantations 
were abandoned in the war by our Dutch and English, whose houses were burnt, as has been 



206 NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

stated, and what number of cattle has each individually lost? It is our opinion those will 
amount to between 40 and 50, and had they been all preserved, might have been doubled at 
this day, and the cattle quadrupled, so that a considerable tenth would yearly accrue to the 
Hon Ue Company, and ourselves obtain annually overflowing returns of produce, with which not 
only the Hon ble Company's ships — yea, were the whole fleet to amount 30 to 40 in number — 
but also the Islands in the West Indies and the Brazil, could be supplied with grain, flour, peas, 
pork, beef and other necessaries, which now must be had from the English at the North at a 
great expense. 

4. That relative to princely power is questioned. Thereunto we say, that Mr. Arent van Curler 
verbally communicated that information to us as worthy of belief; and that the aforesaid 
Curler declared, at the house of the Minister, Everhardus Bogardus, in the presence of Captain 
de Vries, that he had heard Mons r de la Montaigne complain in the tavern to Martin Krygier, 
that Mr. Kieft's power in this country was greater and more extensive, as regards his 
commission, than was that of his Highness of Orange in the Netherlands ; and though, through 
lapse of time, it being some years ago, it has slipped our memory who were the others 
present when this argument occurred, yet we think that he named, among the rest, Willem de 
Key, Jan Jansen Daem, who also should have heard it. Therefore, we respectfully request 
your Honors to be pleased to take the trouble to examine the Minister aforesaid, Captain de 
Vries, and the other persons, touching this matter. 3. This assertion can also be somewhat 
corroborated by the certificate, Carta, D.; also, by the fact itself, that his Honor commenced 
this bloody and disastrous war of his own authority, independent of his Council. 

5. That the Eight men were treated with contempt and disregard, we, the undersigned 
experienced in company with Thomas Hall. On the last of June, 1644, Mr. Kieft sent for us 
on the subject of the demanded toll, and left us sitting in the room from eight o'clock until 
noon, without asking us a question notwithstanding we frequently notified him by the 
messenger of our arrival and of our being there in waiting to hear what his Honor would 
please to submit to us, but not a word in explanation did his Honor send us, and leaving the 
business unfinished we were under the necessity of returning as wise as we went. Was not 
this, now, mocking and scoffing them ? Be it borne in mind that his Honor had sent for us by 
his messenger. We thus consider our statement uncontradicted. It is also corroborated in 
Carta, D., the S th June, 1644. 

6. The agreeing to the Excise is seen by 3 letters, E. F. G.; by the Acts of the 18, 21, 22 
June, 1644, and therefore no further declaration is necessary. 

7. The misstatements of the Little Book on the subject of the war, which are referred to in 
the letter. We wish, in regard to Mr. Kieft, that we had committed an error on this point 
in our communication; but 'tis to be feared that, when compared with other declarations, 
something strange will be found in it. But we leave this on one side, and refer to our Minister 
and Cornells van Tienhoven, the Secretary, both of whom read it for the purpose of punctuating 
it, and wbo flung it from the table on account of the nonsense they found in it in regard to 
the war, so that your Honors will please to hear the Minister aforesaid and Secretary van 
Tienhoven hereupon. Also, if his Honor please, this Little Book must be produced in order 
to look in it for what, through lapse of time, has been forgotten. 

8. It is chiefly manifest from their own act, that the Indians conducted themselves like lambs, 
before the melancholy spectacle of which they were the victims in the year 1643 over at 
Pavonia and on the Island Manhatas. Be it remarked, that they allowed themselves, their 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: III. 207 

wives and children to be slaughtered at that time like sheep, and came (so to speak) like lambs 
to lie in our arms. We appeal in this case to the entire Commonalty and to each member of 
it individually, who hath survived that time, to say how murderously the Indians were then 
treated. Would to God we may be found to be liars on this point. But the truth thereof shall 
be more than sufficiently established hereafter before their High Mightinesses. 

9. That there was at the time a supply of 2,500 pounds of powder. We shall not assert 
precisely if there were 2 or 300 pounds more or less, but merely say, that there ought to 
have been a good portion according to Monsieur la Montaigne's own acknowledgment 
which he made on the ]9 February 1645, in presence of Mr. Kieft and Captain de Vries. So 
that de la Montaigne, and the Captain will be able to furnish full explanation why and wherefore 
there was a conversation at that time about powder. Mr. Kieft also knows how much powder 
was seized from Peter Wynkoop, and how much received from the Seven Stars and 
elsewhere. 

10. That Skipper Laurens Cornelissen could not defend his case in consequence of Director 
Kieft's authority. On this point, the above named Skipper complained in presence of divers 
persons ; to wit, that he would indeed have obtained declarations from some persons in his suit 
regarding pearls, but, through fear and in consequence of the high station of Mr. Kieft, they 
dare not give them except two, who, however, had made so bold and gave him a certificate. 
We do not corroborate the whole of this matter in our letters; we merely say, that we believe 
it. 2. As this point has no relation to the general affairs of the country, but merely regards the 
difficulty between Mr. Kieft and the above named skipper, we shall therefore refrain from it 
and pass to the conclusion. 

His Honor says, first, that all these points of our letter are false libels and lies ; also, that 
he hath replied to all the other contents of the letter. We, therefore, respectfully request to 
be furnished with a copy thereof; Item, he hath warned the Directors of the above named five 
gentlemen; we wish also to see that letter. We cannot comprehend how we ever deceived the 
Directors by impertinent papers ; on the contrary we show that we have been esteemed and 
respected by them in consequence of the large cargo of live stock which, with the Directors, 
we brought hither to New Netherland in the ship the Brant van Troyen; Wherefore, they most 
particularly instructed Mr. Kieft (to use their own words) to treat us well in order the better 
to encourage others. Item. They, especially Jacob Stoffelsen and Isack Allerton, cheated the 
good people whose names they dishonestly made use of, and whom they imploringly besought 
to sign, thus deceiving the Lords Patroons, inducing them to believe that the original letter was 
signed by the Eight men. This appears, indeed, clear, be it remarked, that when the letter 
was exhibited to them they acknowledged here before your Honors in Council that they signed. 
Item. They threatened the good people and sought with bitter poison to calumniate their 
magistrates, wherefore his Honor demands justice, so that his innocence may be known both 
here and in Holland, etc a 

We have already answered in the 8 ,h article and again repeat, that as respects Mr. Kieft we 
heartily wish his Honor may establish his innocence before their High Mightinesses touching 
this war with the Americans. We are content to be, then, esteemed such as his Honor described 
us in his letter, and shall willingly suffer and take it with an honest face; for the wisest man 
teaches that the feeble must not speak evil, as anger is not excited against the silent man. 
It is said that Diogenes was once asked how he could contrive to live so many years at court? 
To which the philosopher answered : I had to bear and endure much injury at court from the 



2Qg NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

King, and I always in return said, Thank you. We willingly confess that we have not 
experienced what the philosopher here represents, for not an unkind word was exchanged 
between us and Mr. Kieft in our intercourse with that gentleman. 

His Honor must prove that the Eight chosen men, who were elected by the Commonalty 
and approved and authorized by his Honor and his Council, acted unlawfully in communicating 
to their High Mightinesses and Lords Majors, the general ruin and necessity of the country, in 
order thereby to obtain earlier aid and assistance, as is, God be praised ! now evident. Were 
this true, as we trust it is, we think, under correction, that we have not injured Mr. Kieft 
in general nor in particular ; and that his Honor ought not so sharply and so severely censure 
and reprimand us; for the ancient Sage was of opinion that a person high in station could not 
commit a graver fault than to insult those who durst not answer him. But it had been better 
that this matter had been referred to those by whom it could have been brought to a final decision ; 
for it Mr. Kieft has yet to prove that his Honor lawfully and of a necessity, commenced the war 
in question against those Natives. If lawfully, his Honor will rejoice, and we, on the other hand, 
shall remain in shame and disgrace ; if the contrary be established, to wit, that it was urged 
forward through his own fancy, let us then once see what the law of nations thinks of it; for 
in the exacting of punishment, this law must first of all be observed, so that no war be ever 
again undertaken, unless men are stronger than the opposite party. For not only doth prudence, 
or the love of one's own, but even frequently those also who administer justice, demand that 
people abstain from a hazardous war, as, from the nature of government, the sovereign is 
bound by justice to care for the subject, no less than the subject to obey; so that even a 
King, who undertakes a war for a trifling cause, or to exact unnecessary punishment, which 
is very hazardous, is hound to indemnify the subject for all damage incurred thereby ; having, 
by that means, done him wrong and, for insufficient cause, brought down on him such serious 
difficulties. For this reason Linius says — " That is a just war, which is a necessary one." 
James, King of Great Britain, in his lifetime admitted this; and Propertius says — " A soldier 
must bear arms in order thereby to control arms." 

Moreover, even just cause, does not oblige rulers to undertake war for their subjects, except 
-it can be done without damage to all, or the majority of them. For the office of governor 
extends rather over the whole, than over a part ; and where a part is greater, there it 
approximates more closely to the nature of the whole; and in regard to Christ's precept, which 
wills that we be ready to lay aside all contention and discord ; consequently, still more does it 
discountenance war ; and, therefore, says Ambrose — " It is not only generosity in a prudent man 
to desist somewhat from his right ; but it is also profitable and advantageous." In like manner 
Aristides — " Men must quietly yield and grant a little, for those are prized who will rather 
suffer wrong than contention." Xenophon : — " It becometh even the wise not to commence 
a war for a great cause." From all that has been here stated on the subject of war, it can 
readily be concluded how prudently we must proceed in the matter; and how hazardous it is 
to engage in it, especially with so rude and barbarous a people as these Indians are. 

This being now laid aside, let us conclude. 

As regards the letter to the XIX. by the Blue Cock, we cannot produce it, inasmuch as we 
sent it by Govert Loockemans to Holland, enclosed to a person whose name we, for cause, 
would not willingly disclose ; we cannot for certainty say whether Andries Hudden, who drew 
up that letter and who also subscribed it with his own hand, still retains the draft or minute 
of it. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: III. 209 

It appears, then, from what we have answered in this our declaration, that we did not act 
as Mr. Kieft is pleased to lay to our charge ; but submit all this to the discretion of your 
Honors' wise and mature judgment. It is remarked, that Mr. Kieft demands in his declaration, 
which was read to us in your Honor's court on the IS" 1 instant, that we be sent to Holland as 
pests and seditious persons. We, therefore, respectfully request of your Honors that it be 
granted to us, not to go as pestilent and seditious persons, as his Honor represents, but as good 
patriots and proprietors of New Netherland ; this, it is manifest we are, from what we have 
expended in the country ; and which, in this war, was in a moment laid in ashes, whereby we 
have lost all our property. Whereunto we call God, the Lords Majors and the entire 
Commonalty, to witness. Also, that the other four out of the Eight chosen men, may be 
likewise sent with us, in order that they may acknowledge their signatures before their High 
Mightinesses; moreover, that all who are on their interrogatories may be summoned before 
your Honors for the 13"' instant. 

Finally and lastly, we respectfully pray the General and Council to be pleased to legally call 
together, before the departure of the Princess, all the freemen and Company's servants, who 
have survived the war, and ask them conjointly the following question, to wit: If we did not 
live in peace with these surrounding Indians before they were slaughtered, in February, 1643, 
on Jan de Lacher's hook, near Jan Evertsen's bouwery at Pavonia, and behind Curler's 
plantation on the Island of Manhattans ; also, whether each of them, individually, could not 
at the time, uninterruptedly pursue their outdoor labor in the bush, as well as in the field, and 
live safely in their houses with their wives and children, without any fear of the Indians. 
Expecting this, &c, remaining your Hon" faithful inhabitants of New Netherland. 

(Signed) Jochiem Piet : Cuyter, 
Done at the Manhatans, Ady, this 22 d June, 1G47. Cornelis Melyn. 



The Eight Men to the Amsterdam Chamber of the West India Company. 

Q. To the Honorable, Wise, Prudent General Directors of the Incorporated West India 
Company, Chamber at Amsterdam. 

Honorable Sirs. 

We gratefully learned by your letters per the Macht van Enckhuyzen, your Honors' disposition 
to extend assistance to us in this our truly most unfortunate plight; we also trust and pray to 
God that it be done by the earliest opportunity. 

We afterwards again respectfully dispatched by the ship Blue Cock, our general necessity to 
the Hon ble XIX. We hope your Honors will have favorably regarded the contents thereof, in 
which we, in a superficial manner, briefly yet truly, submitted the first origin whence this war 
arose, to our universal ruin. Would to God it had not been meddled with. 

We were greatly rejoiced at the miraculous arrival of the Blue Cock here with so many of 
the Company's people, and therefore hoped that the field would be taken with between three 
and four hundred men, (not including the sailors and settlers,) divided into three companies of 
one hundred and thirty men each, and by this force, the neighboring savages for 1-5 (al 20 miles 
around, would have had their crops destroyed, and themselves stripped of all their support for 
the winter, whereby great injury might have been inflicted on the enemy, in order with a view 

Vol. I. 27 



210 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

to their easier reduction hereafter to terms. But nothing in the least has been done therein. 
In all that time, scarce a foot has been moved in the matter, nor an oar laid in the water. 

The captured Indians who might have been of considerable use to us as guides, have been 
given to the soldiers as presents, and allowed to go to Holland ; the others have been sent off 
to the Bermudas as a present to the English governor. The oldest and most experienced 
soldiers, who for several years were acquainted with all the paths here, have obtained their 
passport and been allowed to return home. In the meanwhile the Indians secreted without 
molestation their fish caught this last summer on the river, of which they had uninterrupted 
use at their pleasure. 

Our fields lie fallow and waste ; our dwellings and other buildings are burnt; not a handful 
can be planted or sown this fall on all the abandoned places. The crop, which God the Lord 
permitted to come forth during the past summer, remains on the field, as well as the hay, 
standing and rotting in divers places; whilst we poor people have not been able to obtain a 
single man for our defence. We are burdened with heavy families ; have no means to provide 
necessaries any longer for our wives or children. We are seated here in the midst of 
thousands of Indians and barbarians, from whom is to be experienced neither peace nor 
pity. We have left our Fatherland, and had not the Lord our God been our comfort, must 
have perished in our wretchedness. 

There are amongst us, who by the sweat and labor of their hands, have been endeavoring 
at great expense, to improve their lands and gardens; others with their own capital, have 
equipped with every necessary their own ships, which have been captured by the enemy in 
coming hither, though they have continued the voyage with equal zeal, and at considerable 
cost. Some, again, independent of the Company, have brought hither large numbers of 
families in vessels of as great burden, freighted with a large stock of cattle, and have erected 
handsome buildings on the spots selected for their people; cleared the forest and the 
wilderness, enclosed and brought their plantations under the plough, so as to be an ornament 
to the country and a profit to the proprietors, after their long laborious toil. 

All these are now laid in ashes through a foolish hankering after war ; for it is known to all 
right thinking men here, that these Indians have lived as lambs among us until a few years 
ago, injuring no one, affording every assistance to our nation, and had in Director van Twiller's 
time (when supplies had not been sent for several months), furnished provisions to several 
of the Company's servants, as they stale, until supplies were received. The Director hath, by 
various uncalled for proceedings, from time to time so estranged them from us, and so 
embittered them against the Dutch nation, that we do not believe any thing will bring them 
back, unless the Lord God, who bends all men's hearts to his will, propitiate them. Thus 
hath the Antient very truly observed : "Any man can create turmoil, and set the people one 
against the other; but to establish harmony again, is in the power of God alone." 

A semblance of peace was attempted to be patched up last spring with one or two tribes of 
Savages towards the North by a foreigner l whom we, for cause, shall not now name, without 
one of the Company's servants having been present, whilst our principal enemies are left 
unmolested. This place hath borne little fruit for the Commonwealth and our Lords' reputation, 
and we now daily experience what we observed in the 5 th article of our previous letter to the 
Hon ble XIX. For these savages had no sooner their maize in pits but they began to murder 

1 Capt. John Unclerhill — Ed. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: ITT. 211 

our people in various directions. They continually rove around in parties, night and day, on 
the Island of Manhattans, killing our people not a thousand paces from the Fort ; and things 
have now arrived at such a pass, that no one dare move a foot to fetcli a stick of fire wood 
withoht an escort. 

The two bouweries in the Bay, and the three on this Island, one of which belongs to the 
Hon hlc Company, are in great danger of being burnt this winter, for never have these Savages 
shown themselves so bold and insolent. The cause of this is, that they have not experienced 
any opposition from us this summer, nor lost any of their crops. And, thus, have they 
circumvented us by a strategem under pretense of peace. Had diligence which is most 
necessary in time of war, been used, as we requested, with the force of the Blue Cock, during 
this season, the Indians would, beyond a peradventure, have made advances themselves, and 
some hope would exist of enjoying, against the arrival of a new Governor, a general peace. 

But to this very little attention has been paid. The favorable season has been allowed to 
go by, and people have busied themselves with private quarrels and law suits, with this one 
and that, especially about sending pearls by Louwrens Cornelissen, skipper of the Maecht van 
Enckkuyzen, which lasted six weeks, and who on that account has been banished. Through 
respect for the Director, we shall not rightly speak of the matter which finally appertains to the 
Lords only to pass on, but so much is said and heard here, and it is our opinion, that had it 
not been for the authority of the Director the poor skipper might have fortified himself with 
divers most respectable certificates ; not only with those which were sent with him but 
also with divers others. 

Two guides have recently been called from the North with whom Captain De Vries was 
sent, on the 22 d instant, with a party on an expedition in that direction. They killed eight » 
but as the saying is — 

" Whenever we lay one enemy low, 
On the morrow another returns the blow." 

With those raw and naked soldiers who have resided for so many years in warm climates, we 
shall have to wade in frost and snow through rivers and creeks; but shall probably survive 
this and sneak back again into our shells from the winter. 

We are again in want of powder. Including that of Peter Wynkoop, it is estimated that 
2500 weight was received in the cellar up to this date, five hundred pounds of which have not 
been used in that period, against the enemy. 

The country here is no longer of any or much account. Every place is going to ruin ; 
neither counsel nor advice is taken ; the only talk here is of princely power and sovereignty, 
about which La Montaigne argued a few days ago in the tavern, maintaining that the power of 
the Director here was greater, as regards his office and commission, than that of his Highness 
of Orange in the Netherlands. 

For the sake of appearances, Twelve men were called together here, in November, 1642 j 
on the subject of the murder of Claes, the wheelwright; the Director submitted to them 
whether the blood of the aforesaid wheelwright should not be avenged? Whereupon divers 
debates arose on the one side and the other, as the document will show; for at this time a 
hankering after war had wholly seized on the Director. But the aforesaid 12 men could 
not continue to meet any longer than the S th of February following; for such was forbidden 
on pain of corporal punishment. Shortly after, he commenced the war against those of 
Wesquecqueck, on his own mere motion, as appears by the petition of the Twelve men. 



212 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

At the request of the Director, the Commonalty again elected S men, in September, 1613; 
hut this was 6 (f). 7 months after the Director had authorized the execution of the cruel deed 
over at Pavonia. They did, indeed, draw up some good and suitable regulations; forbidding 
taverns and all other improprieties; appointed a week's preaching instead, as can be seen by 
the order; but it was not executed by the officer. 

These Eight men, aforesaid, were never called together again on public business, from the 
4 ,h November, 1643, to the 18 th June, 1644; though in that period many things occurred. It 
was, indeed, sufficiently manifest how little were these Eight men respected, for no sooner did 
they open their mouths to propose anything tending in their judgment to the public good, than 
the Director met them with sundry biting and scoffing taunts ; and sometimes had them 
summoned, without asking them a question, thus obliging them to return amidst jeers and 
sneers, as wise as they went. 

We were finally again convoked, on the lS th June, 1644, as above stated, when the Director 
demanded that some new taxes and excise should be imposed on the Commonalty, or he should 
discharge the English soldiers. Whereupon we remonstrated, that it was impossible for us to 
raise means from the people, as those outside (de but/ten buys luydcn) were reduced to the 
extremest necessity by this war; and we did not conceive that our powers extended so far as 
to impose new taxes; but that such must first be considered by a higher authority (to wit, by 
the Lords Majors). 

Hereat the Director became much enraged, and with an altered mien said to us, in presence 
of the Fiscal and Montaigne: I have more power here than the Company; therefore I may do 
whatever I please. He further added : for I have my commission not from the Company, but 
from the Lords the States: as by the certificate further can be seen. 

We nevertheless consented to the Director's proposition ; but submitted to his Honor that 
there was a more suitable means devisable, by which the poor Commonalty could be spared 
(to wit), that the private traders, who had drawn excessive profits from the country, by their 
injurious usury, should contribute something to the public service. And what further followed 
is seen in two different Remonstrances; but the Director was pleased to disregard this; 
rejected it, as utterly unworthy, and allowed Gerrit Vastrick to depart with some thousand 
skins, without taking a penny from him ; from what motive is unknown to us. 

With all that, the Director, a few days before the Blue Cock sailed, had a placard published 

without our knowledge, wherein the aforesaid duty was demanded from others, and laid at 15 

stuyvers per beaver ; and 2 guilders for every tun of beer, from the brewers as well as from 

the tapsters; but the former were allowed in return to charge the burgher a guilder more; 

and the tapster to charge one stiver (more) per pot ; so that this will probably have to be 

paid by the poor, who are unable to procure beer for the sick and wounded, except by the can. 

We understand here, that the Director sent to the Lords, by the Blue Cock, a Book 

ornamented with various pictures in water colors, in which he dilates at length on the origin 

of the war. On that subject it contains as many lies as lines; as we are informed by the 

Minister and others who have read it; and from our time to his, as few facts as leaves. It is 

to be embellished with an oil painting. We shall not question what sort of birds are in the 

woods, nor what species offish resort the rivers here; nor the length and breadth of the land. 

All this is mere copy, and has been long ago described by others. It may, indeed, be asked, 

how it comes that the Director can so aptly describe all localities and the nature of the 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS : III. 213 

animals, since his Honor in the six or seven years he has been residing at the Manhatans, has 
never been, in this country, farther from his kitchen and hedchamber than half way up the 
aforesaid Island. 

But laying all the preceding aside, we shall still have to inquire, namely — Were we not at 
peace with all those surrounding Indians on the 24' h February, 1643, at the time, we say, 
when the Director kept Shrovetide with three of his cronies at one of their houses, on which 
occasion Jan Dam proposed a mysterious toast, and a few days after which, this accursed deed 
was executed by the murder of so many innocent Indians at Pavonia and at the Manatans. 
Should we relate all the circumstances that have occurred in this country in six @. seven years, 
time would fail us, and the perusal would fatigue your Honors. But with your permission we 
shall postpone it to a more appropriate time. 

Honored Lords ! This is what we have, in the sorrow of our hearts, to complain of; that 
one man, who has been sent out, sworn and instructed by his Lords and masters, to whom he 
is responsible, should dispose here of our lives and properties at his will and pleasure, in a 
manner so arbitrary that a King dare not legally do the like. 

We shall terminate here, and commit the matter wholly to our God ; who, we pray and 
heartily trust, will move your hearts and bless your deliberations, so that one of these two 
things may happen ; that a Governor may be speedily sent with a beloved peace to us ; or, that 
your Honors will be pleased to permit us to return, with wives and children to our dear 
Fatherland. For it is impossible ever to settle this country until a different system be 
introduced here, and a new Governor sent out with more people, who will settle in suitable 
places, one near the other, in the form of villages or hamlets, and elect from among themselves 
a Bailiff" or Schout and Schepens, who will be empowered to send their deputies and give their 
votes on public affairs with the Director and Council ; so that the entire country may not be 
hereafter, at the whim of one man, again reduced to similar danger. So long as this is not 
done, we say, the rural districts can never be cultivated. We respectfully request that the 
aforesaid may be taken into consideration. We remain, as we are, your Honors' faithful, poor 
and distressed inhabitants of New Netherland. 

Done Manatans this 2S ,h October, A° 1644. 

We should have postponed these our multitudinous complaints were we assured that our 
previous letter to the Hon ble the XIX., by the Blue Cock, bad safely arrived. 

(Signed) Jochem P" Cuvter, The mark ©■ — I -i . of 

Isack Allerton, Jacob Stoffelsen, 

This is the mark ~- | / of Thomas Hall, 

Gerrit Wolffersen, Jan Evertsen Bout, 

made by himself. The mark p of 

Cornelis Melyn, Barent Dircksen, 

made by himself. 

Judgment pronounced by Director iituyvesant on Jochem Pietersen Kuyter. 

15. 1647. The 10 August this was sent to my house by the clerk, Jacob Kieft. 

Whereas, Jochim Pietersen Kuyter, aged 50 years, a native of Ditmersen, hath presumed 
and undertaken to threaten with the finger the Hon ble Director, his Chief, here in the meeting 



2J[4 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

of the Eight men, who were assembled as a Board, and to say — When he had doffed the coat 
with which his Lords and Masters had cloathed him, he will then certainly have him : witness 
his own confession dated 16 lh July last, when he said, in Our court, that he gave some 
explanations to this effect: That this could happen only when Mynheer had taken off the coat 
his Lords and Masters had put on him ; and the abovenamed Jochem Pietersen, in company 
with one Cornells Melyn, drew up, prepared and wrote a false and libelous letter, dated 27 
October, 1G44, which he signed with Melyn and sent over in the name of the Eight chosen 
men, to the Hon ble Directors of the General Incorporated West India Company, Chamber at 
Amsterdam, wherein they clandestinely and most scandalously accuse, injure, criminate and 
charge the late Director Kieft, then their lawful Governor and Chief, with divers criminal 
misdeeds as is and can still be more fully seen and read in the original and authentic 
copy thereof. We and Our Council having inquired and taken testimony as to the truth thereof, 
at the request of said Director Kieft, it is, accordingly, found that such libelous letter is in 
many parts, false, lying and defamatory, as appears and is proved by experience and by the 
evidence of others heard to the number of fifteen ; also, by the confession and answers of 
the co-signers ; Therefore, the Fiscal instituting criminal suit and process, accuses and 
convicts the aforesaid Jochem Pietersen of having offended against the Director's quality 
and falsely injured him in writing. All which being fully examined, weighed and every thing 
being maturely observed and considered by the Hon Director General and Council, the 
aforesaid perpetrated offence is found to be of great and serious importance, and not to be 
tolerated or endured in a well ordered and governed Republic, it being a matter of very evil 
consequence. Therefore the Hon ble Director General Petrus Stuyvesant, with the advice of 
his Hon ble Council, administering justice in the name of their High Mightinesses, the Lords 
States General, his Serene Highness, the Hon We Directors of the Incorporated West India 
Company, hath condemned, as he hereby doth condemn, the abovenamed Jochem Pietersen, 
to a banishment of three consecutive years, and to depart with the earliest opportunity, and in 
addition, to pay a fine of one hundred and fifty guilders, to be applied one-third for the Fisc, 
one-third for the Church, and one-third for the Poor. Dismissing the Fiscal's further demand. 
Thus done and enacted at the Court in fort Amsterdam, in New Netherland, the 25 th July, 
1647. 

Agrees with the Book of Resolutions. 

(Signed) Cornelis van Tienhoven, Secretary. 

All the abovewritten Letters, Declarations, &c, are, after due, careful collation, found to 
agree with the Originals and principals. At the Hague, the 17 th February, 1650. 

To my knowledge, (Signed) M. Beeckman, Notary Public. 



Resolutions of the States General on the opening of Trade in New Netherland. 

[ From the Register of West India Affairs, 163S — 1651, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Saturday, lS lh January, 164S. 
Foiio 324. T| ie seven tli and last section of the Management of the Company which treats 

New Netherland ; <=> l J 

mtfcrence q bei'ween °f New Netherland, is taken up, and resolved to open the trade to that quarter, 
upon!"""''"'' 1110 ™' an d t0 permit individuals to export thence in their own ships, their country 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: III. 215 

produce, grain, flour, fish, and other supplies. But inasmuch as some discrepancy exists 
between the members, as to whether this exportation shall be granted alone to Brazil, or 
indeed to all of the Company's districts, except Guinea and St. Thomas, they are requested to 
consider the same until next Monday, and to come to a mutual understanding. 

Monday, 20 January, 1648. 
F..HO 824 Again the seventh section of the Management is taken into consideration, and 

cxpoTi r !. e . r i'r '"»TJ it is resolved that private inhabitants of New Netherland shall be allowed to 

try produce I" lira- . .. , . _ _ . 

zii ami Augoia. export their country produce under suitable duty, in their own or chartered ships, 
to Brazil and Angola, on these following conditions: first, that the aforesaid ships, when in 
Brazil, shall not be at liberty to return back with sugars to New Netherland aforesaid, but shall 
let themselves be chartered directly hither. Secondly, that the permit to proceed to Angola 
above mentioned, shall only be provisionally granted, and that for the time that the 
dispensation shall continue in regard to the exportation of Slaves, which was accorded on 
Thursday last. Thirdly, that those willing to go to Angola, shall, previous to their departure 
from New Netherland, take out commission and permit from here, and also give security, 
similar to all other persons trading from this country. Mr. Mortamer alone requested, that 
before the passing of this resolution, he may communicate its contents to his Chamber, and 
learn their opinion thereon. 

Wednesday, 5 February, 1648. 
Foiio 82-. Mr. Mortamer being called on respecting the business of New Netherland, 

sp.-rtinlT " "'°New hath declared, that he consents to the resolution adopted on the 20 th 

Netherland, ap- x , 

proved by Zealand. January last. 



Resolution of the States General on Complaints against Directors Kieft and 

Stuyvesant. 

[ From the Register of West India Affairs, 1638 — 1661, in the Royal Archives at the Hague.] 

Friday, 7 th February, 1648. 
Priv»u>° c^mputm. Read two petitions of Jochem ^Pieters 8 C. Melyn, and Michiel Bucquet, 
ofHewNeSerian™ complaining of the Directors Kieft and Stuyvesant, in New Netherland, which 
are referred to the Directors [of the West India Company,] to give information thereon. 



Resolution of the States General on the opening of Trade in New Netherland. 

[ From the Register of West India Affairs, 16S3— 1651, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Monday, 10 February, 1648. 
Foiio 336. The considerations of the Directors and principal partners of the Zealand 

Chamber of the West India Company, being now submitted to their High Mightinesses, 



216 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

pursuant to their High Mightinesses' order and letters dated xxx. March, 1647, on the suhject 
of the redress, management and trade of the Directors, for the preservation and maintenance of 
the aforesaid Company. With a view to grant the said Company, with the newly conceded 
charter, the following to be executed and maintained according to order. And first the most 
principal work, etc 

roiia 339. It should be also understood, that individuals shall be at liberty to export to 

New Netherhmd. Brazil, in their own ships, fish, flour and country produce, the growth of that 
country and no other, in the manner and form granted in the next preceding article, as 
stipulated of wines and oil, on such duty as is paid in the country to the Company on the 
exportation thereof, on condition that the ships from Brazil must not return to New Netherland 
with any cargo, but come directly hither with their freight ; all with this understanding, that 
rotation shall be observed among the respective Chambers in the fitting out for the places 
within the Company's charter: whereunto proper rules shall be also enacted here to the 
satisfaction of the members. 



Monday, 10 February, 164S. 

Reflation respect- New Netherland can never be a source of profit for the Company, until the 
Meiherta2d. et0 ew population from our country be encouraged more than it has hitherto been, which 
can be effected by allowing them, in addition to their present privilege, to export their fish, 
flour and produce, the growth of that couutry and no other, to Brazil, in private or the 
Company's ships, under the supervision of a commissary, to be placed by the Company on board 
the ships, on the usual Brazilian duty payable at the Reciff to those of the Company who are 
to be ordered to allow the said goods to be disposed of there, and in return to export, at 
certain duty, from Brazil to New Netherland and not elsewhere, as much merchandise, such as 
Slaves, by direction of the government, so that the sugar trade may not, by that means, be 
diverted, it being well understood that in loading and unloading, they shall be bound to bring 
the goods to the Company's store. 



Report on the Affairs of the West India Company. 

[ From the Register of "West India Affairs, 163S— 1661, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Summary Report of what has been done for the improvement of the declining 
affairs of the West India Company in January 1648. 

Foiio sis. Messrs. van der Capellen tho Ryssel, Beveren, Bruininx, Vett, van der Hoolck, 

d t re'ss rl of f "ihe' e we!i Andree, appointed in the place of Mr. Houbois, van der Eyben, 

Commissioners on the Redress of the declining affairs of the West India Company, 
have reported in virtue of, and pursuant to your High Mightinesses' resolution of the 22 d March 
1647, adopted before granting the Charter of the West India Company, and made on your High 
Mightinesses' letters to the respective Chambers dated \ f December 1647, to send their respective 
deputies to the Hague by the 7 ,h January, in order to make a beginning of the aforesaid Redress ; 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS : III. 217 

commenced the conference on the 9 th of January with the Directors, and demanded of their 
deputies the condition of the Company, as well in receipts as dishursements, with their respective 
opinions upon the reparation of the decline experienced therein ; and thereupon the five 
Chambers of Amsterdam, Zealand, Maaze, North Quarter and Groeningen delivered in their 
respective opinions, but they said that the pertinent statement of the receipts and expenditure 
of the Company, both domestic and foreign, was not ready. 

And thereupon we requested the deputed Accountants Bloemert and Altingh to make up the 
Company's aforesaid statement, and, meanwhile, the said opinions of the respective Chambers 
were read. 

On the 4 th February the Accountant Altingh delivered in a statement of the Company's 
expenditures and income in Brazil from January 1647 to January 1648, from which it appears 
that the Company's expenses for that year were Eleven to Twelve Tons of Gold, 1 and the 
income, on the other hand, from an uncertain source is provisionally estimated at four tons of 
Gold N° 1 ; from which the total ruin and decline of the Company is to be expected, if prompt 
provision be not immediately made against it. 

And whereas the present statement was made up at the time of the Portuguese rebellion in 
Brazil, in the lowest condition of that conquest, your High Mightinesses' Commissioners also 
requested of the Accountants the statement of the Company's receipts and expenditure in Brazil, 
previous to the rebellion, in order to ascertain whether, in case of the re-establishment of 
Brazil, means are to be found for the support of the Military, which are needed for the 
preservation of that conquest, and the annexed statement No. 2, was delivered in by 
the Accountants. It appears therefrom, that the public expenses for the re-establishment of 
Brazil were not incurred in vain ; especially as that statement does not include considerable 
returns yet to arrive from Angola, Guinea, and St. Thomas, if these coasts are properly traded. 

Besides that, the Provinces have no better guarantee for the maintenance of peace with the 
King of Spain, than in the preservation of the conquests in Brazil ; because, from that point can 
be invaded and ravaged the King of Spain's possessions in the West Indies and South Sea, 
from whence he yearly derives his greatest supplies of Gold and Silver; so that he could not 
have sufficient power to molest or endanger these United Provinces with a numerous army. 

Your High Mightinesses' Commissioners have held divers Conferences on the subject of the 
redress of the decline and the arrest of the farther decay, and thereunto examined the 
management of the Company in the matter of 

1" Trade. 

2 nd Retrenchment. 

3 rd Support, or regular finance of receipts and expenses for subsistence. 

4 ,h Government, foreign and domestic, for the establishment of a good police, and a regular 
force by land and water. 

And, hereupon, were divers good opinions brought in, as is to be seen from the report 
(No. 3) of the business transacted thereupon, from the 9 January to the ll lh February; the 
opinions of the five ClTambers of Amsterdam, Zealand, Maaze, North Quarter and Groningen 
No. 4 : with, likewise, the general report (No. 5) drawn up from the aforesaid opinions of the 
five Chambers, and of the delegates from Holland, with the considerations of the actual 

1 A ton of gold is equal to one hundred thousand guilders ($10,000) — Sew ah. 
Vol. I. 28 



218 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

deputed Directors (No. 6) entered in the margin thereof, and the opinion of the Company's 
Chamber of Accounts, No. 7. 

But inasmuch as the execution of the orders in said relation contained, requires length or 
lapse of time, your High Mightinesses' Commissioners therefore would submit whether some 
prompt means ought not to be provided, in consequence of this unfavorable condition of 
Brazil, to prevent the further unnecessary and unprofitable decline of the Company. 

And in order that the Military, which have now been sent out at great public expense 
for the recovery of Brazil, may have the means of maintaining their lives, and thus be the 
more encouraged and strengthened, in order, with the help of God the Lord, bravely to execute, 
with the old soldiery, what they are sent out for. 

And your High Mightinesses' Commissioners hereunto would propose, as prompt means: — 

1° A reduction of expenses both at home and abroad, and with this view, the stoppage 
and cessation of the yearly allowance of Eighty-eight Directors and their attendants (svppoosten), 
which amounts to about one hundred and fifty thousand guilders, according to the return of 
the Accountants General, No. 8. 

And in order that the Company may not remain, in the meanwhile, without a government, 
the places of the Accountants ought to be increased (supplcren) to six in number, agreeably 
to the plan, No. 9, of an honorable Patriot who has long served the Company as Director and 
is well acquainted with its condition. 

And to carry out the said plan it will be necessary to depute, in place of twelve, nineteen 
Directors, to whom, with the six accountants, the management should be provisionally 
committed for a year or two, with such instruction as will be found necessary for the redress 
and removal of abuses and the maintenance of order. 

And hereunto might be appointed, from the Amsterdam Chamber, six Directors, including 
two from the outside chambers. 

From the Zealand Chamber, four Directors; three from that of Maaze; three from the North 
quarter, and three from Groeningen. 

The Amsterdam Chamber ought to have the Advocate with two clerks, one porter and two 
messengers. 

Each of the other Chambers might have one clerk, acting also as Book-keeper, one porter 
and one messenger, the expense of which would amount yearly, according to the rate of pay 
now given, as by the specification, No. 8, is to be seen. 

These six Accountants and nineteen Directors should have the management and control in 
matters of trade, finance, returns, munitions of war and stores, etc., and be bound to render 
an account always to your High Mightinesses, or the Commissioner whom your High 
Mightinesses, from time to time, may nominate thereunto, of their Administration as well as 
of what may be further commanded them. 

Of the lesser number of Nineteen Directors, six ought to reside at the Hague for the space 
of three months, and then six others, which Directors shall have to communicate and deliberate 
with your High Mightinesses' Commissioners upon all that is resolved to repair the Company's 
decay, so that by the continual suggestions of the six Directors, the power of the country may 
be used in execution of all that is concluded for the Company's advantage. 

But if the continued residence of the Directors should not be found necessary, they could 
be notified thereof. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: III. 219 

And when deliberating on future important affairs, the aforesaid nineteen Directors could be 
summoned to the Hague, in order provisionally for one, two or three years to do the business 
which the Assembly of the Nineteen is wont to transact. 

The reduction of the Company's foreign expenses in Brazil and other countries, could be 
effected according as your High Mightinesses shall resolve upon the preceding advice of these 
Accountants and Directors, and hereunto appertains the plan, No. 10, laid by the Chamber 
of Accounts in June, 164-5, before the Assembly of the Nineteen at Amsterdam. It appears, 
therefrom, that the Company at home and abroad might save yearly Ten tons of Gold. 

And in the matter of the reduction of unnecessary foreign expenses, the plan is important 
which Director Morthamer submitted at the request of your High Mightinesses' Commissioners, 
whereby the Company could effect a yearly saving of ninety-nine thousand guilders by the 
discharge of useless servants in Brazil. 

The best and greatest oeconomy consists in rendering the Company's servants, high and low, 
accountable for their respective offices, so that they shall be bound to vindicate the same, and 
to send over to the Chamber of Accounts their written return within one month after the 
expiration of the year, to be examined, balanced and corrected, according to their respective 
commissions, for the settlement of the same ; which, up to the present time, has not been 
done either at home or abroad according to order. Thereby has the Company got into this 
desolate condition. 

2° The second means is, that the Chambers be disposed to forthwith undertake their eighteen 
turns a year, according to the regulation of the 29 th April, 1G3S, lying in your High Mightinesses' 
office, and send to Brazil the ships thereunto required ; and this in conformity to the agreement 
entered into between the Chambers, at the Hague, on the sixth July, 1647. 

And the better to attract provisions and other necessaries to Brazil, the freights ought to be 
reduced one-third for the first two months, and afterwards one-fourth for the two succeeding 
months. 

The duties on the goods might be left provisionally, at their present rates. 

It is necessary that there be added to the turns in rotation, two Galiots at Land's end, to 
convey hither the advices respecting, and from, Brazil during the employment of the Military 
for the recovery of that place. 

3. The third means is, that an effort be made to promote trade to the Caribbean islands, 
according to the regulation concluded thereupon, and as it is hoped three or four tons of gold 
will be yearly realized from such trade, that the proceeds be applied to the interest of the 
principal and obligations which have been raised in ready money for the Company. In this 
way new credit is established for the Company, and in consideration of payment of the 
interest, no pledges of wares, salaries, &c, of whatever description will follow. The 
Accountant ought to make distinct lists of all those obligations. 

4. The fourth means: It will contribute essentially to the support of the Company to create 
a commercial stock, in conformity with your High Mightinesses' resolution of the 27 lh February 
1637 ; whereunto the partners ought to be invited to subscribe the sum of Ten hundred 
thousand guilders, for the purpose of trading to the coast of Guinea, St. Thomas, and the north 
coast of Africa, both in consideration of the return which, through God's blessing, is to be 
expected, whenever [means] are employed according to the annexed plan of the Directors 
No. 12, and in regard of the great assistance afforded by your High Mightinesses for the 
restoration of Brazil. 



220 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

The trade and commerce to Angola is with the special permission of the Chambers, laid open 
pursuant to a certain regulation, for two years. From this source a good return may also be 
expected for the support of the Company. 

The trade to New Netherland is in like manner opened, in order that the grain and produce 
of that country may be exported to other places; the regulation whereof, as well as of the trade 
to Angola, is contained in the general advice of the respective Chambers under No. 4. 

5. The fifth means is : Assisting the Company in supporting the expenses of the war in Brazil 
for one, two, or three years. For this purpose, it would be expedient to invite the Provinces 
to aid the Company in this difficulty and dilemma, and for that purpose to cause, through the 
Council of State, the Military to be paid from the subsidies which your High Mightinesses 
promised the Company to defray the heavy war expenses both by land and water; and which 
are still in arrears, according to the statement (No. 13) delivered in by the Accountants, to the 
amount of seventy-four tons of gold, and fifty-one thousand six hundred and fifty-nine guilders ; 
on which promise, the capital was increased by the stockholders. 

And this will not fall so heavily on the Provinces as did the million of money which was 
paid in various years for the execution of the designs of the army. 

And the aforesaid subsidies would tend to the recovery and preservation of a mighty Kingdom, 
to the security of this state against all hostile machinations, aud to the enlarging of a wished 
for trade in sugars, Brazil wood and other costly wares. 

Which Military could afterwards, when Brazil, through the blessing of God the Lord, shall be 
reduced, be paid out of the tenths and the proceeds from the farming of the revenues accruing 
in Brazil, as is to be seen by the balance sheet of the Brazil receipts and expenses for the 
year 1643, No. 2, previously mentioned. From which balance sheet it is to be seen that 
the revenue of Brazil was eight tons of gold and sixty thousand guilders, more than the 
expenses of that year. 

6. The sixth means is : The collection which the Directors have to make from time to time, 
of the Company's old outstanding debts in Brazil; these, by rough computation of the 
Chambers, should amount to between sixty and seventy tons of gold; and by the extract of 
Pieter van der Hagen, late councillor in Brazil, were estimated at seventy-nine tons of gold 
(No. 14). The Accountants can inquire into, and make pertinent report hereupon, according to 
the evidence of those who are acquainted therewith, so that such collection may be made from 
time to time, when Brazil is restored, and further abuses therein be prevented at the right time. 

The required indemnity for damages committed in Brazil by the Portuguese and Rebel 
inhabitants in sugars, houses, mills, gold, silver, cattle, etc., since the year 1645, estimated 
by the Directors in the conference with the Ambassador of Portugal, at over one hundred 
tons of gold, will also help, in its time, as far as its amount goes, to the diminution of the 
Company's burdens. 

And the undertaken recovery of Brazil being successful, a portion of the Company's old debt 
could be paid from this income. 

But in order to maintain the Company's credit by some provisional payment of the more 
urgent debts, those of the Provinces might demand five tons of gold in diminution of the 
arrears of the aforesaid promised subsidy, mentioned, No. 13. 

And from the stockholders might, also, be demanded a like five tons of gold ; which aforesaid 
five tons of gold, with the ten before mentioned for the trade, might be raised by an installment 
from the stockholders of nine per cent. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS : III. 221 

7. The seventh means is: The prosecution of the Salt trade at Punto del Rey, which might 
by inductive means, be facilitated by the Spanish plenipotentiaries before the ratification, by 
our plenipotentiaries, of the Treaty of Peace at Munster; the rather, as the inhabitants of 
.Spain do not draw any salt from Punto del Rey. 

It is necessary that the cultivation of wheat and other produce be promoted for the support 
of the inhabitants and soldiers of Brazil, as soon as any provinces shall be reduced ; and it will 
be expedient that the Supreme Council be written to immediately on the subject, so as to 
advance, as much as possible, the cultivation of the soil, according to the previous resolution 
of the XIX. 

In like manner, the Directors ought now and again pay attention that agriculture and 
population be, from time to time, encouraged in New Netherland as well as in Brazil; pursuant 
to the resolution of the Assembly of the XIX., as the same will tend to the public advantage, 
and special prevention of the decay of the Company, and relieve the latter from sending 
over provisions. 

The Commissioners, with this report, deliver the papers therein mentioned, with the 
commissions from the respective Chambers, to the deputed Directors with whom they have 
acted, as is to be seen by the annexed register. 

nesoiuiion of states Which being taken into consideration, their High Mightinesses have thanked 

Gt-m ral on the pre- ° o o 

ceding Kepu-t. the above mentioned, their Commissioners, for and on account of the trouble 
taken in the aforesaid business, and the Deputies of the respective Provinces have requested 
copy of the foregoing Report and papers thereunto appertaining, which is hereby accorded ; 
and it is unanimously recommended in an especial manner, that they take the trouble to 
exert themselves and use all their influence, either verbally, or in writing, with the Lords 
their respective principals, in order most speedily to effect the same and to receive favorable 
provincial opinions from their respective principals. 

Inventory of the Papers delivered in with the Report on the redress of the West 
India Company. (Thus* marked, have not been copied.) 

N° 1.* Balance sheet for Brazil, from the year 1647, to the year 164S. 

N° 2.* Statement of the year 1643, in Brazil. 

N° 3.* Report of the business from the 9 tb January, to the ll lh February. 

N° 4.* Opinion of five Chambers, to wit, Amsterdam, N° 1 ; Zealand, 2 ; the Maaze, 3 ; North 
Quarter, 4; Groningen, 5. 

N° 5. General Report drawn up from the aforesaid opinions of the five Chambers. 

N° 6. Advice of the Lords of Holland, with remarks of the respective Chambers in the margin. 

N° 7. Advice of the Company's Chamber of Accounts, 

N° 8.* Statement of the Chamber of Accounts, respecting the salaries of Directors and 
their attendants. 

N° 9.* Plan of an honorable Patriot on the reduction of the Directors. 

N° 10.* Plan of the Chamber of Accounts for the saving of ten tons of gold; rendered in 
June, 1645. 

N° 1 1 .* Plan of Director Morthamer, for saving ninety-nine thousand guilders, in unnecessary 
services in Brazil. 

N° 12.* Plan of the Directors for the trade to Guinea, St. Thomas and the North coast of Africa. 

N° 13.* Statement of the Arrears of the subsidies amounting to seventy-four tons of gold and 
fifty-one thousand, six hundred and fifty-nine guilders. 



222 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

N° 14.* Extract of Pieter van der Hagen's account of debts due the Company, to the amount 
of seventy-nine tons of gold. 

N° 15.* Commissions of the respective Chambers for the business respecting the redress of 
the West India Company. 

(No. 5.) Memoir to serve for a general Report of the Directors deputed by the respective 
Chambers of the West India Company, in the matter of Superintendence, 
Retrenchment, Reform and Support of said Company, compiled from the 
special opinions rendered by said Chambers, and some resolutions adopted 
since the delivery of the same. 

polio 863. The business transacted and returned by the aforesaid respective Chambers, 

General Eeport. j g f oun d e( j on a certain letter of the High and Mighty Lords States General, 
dated 3 d March, 1S47, and referring, according to the tenor thereof, to three points especially: 
supennten.iency, First point, Of superintendance ; second point, Of retrenchment and reform; 

economy and re- ... . *-. n 

form. third point, Of support. 

First point — Of Superintendence. 

What relates to superintendence. It was heretofore considered, that it had reference 
particularly and exclusively to the the trade and commerce prosecuted by the Company, or by 
individuals with the Company's permission, within the limits and districts of the charter, 
whence have arisen a great many disputes up to this time among the Chambers ; but such 
order has at present been provisionally made therein, as can be deduced from the following. 

The principal place of trade is Brazil, respecting which, the deputed Directors resolved on 
the 6 ,h July, 1647, that said coast shall continue to be frequented and traded to, in the manner 
and order heretofore in force, to wit : that the trade shall be free and open to all, on condition, 
however, that all wares and merchandises shall have to be brought into the Company's stores, 
and exported in ships owned or chartered by the Company, subject to the duties and freights 
thereon, all by the respective Chambers in rotation ; it is, however, to be here observed, that 
the Chamber of Westfriesland and North Quarter submitted divers sound considerations on 
this point, which can be further examined at a proper time, and also be taken up and put into 
practice according to circumstances. 

Order and Regulation of the General Incorporated West India Company, made 
at the Assembly of the XIX., with the approbation of the High and Mighty 
Lords States General of the United Netherlands, by and pursuant to which 
each and every of the inhabitants of the United Provinces shall be at 
liberty to trade to certain parts hereinafter mentioned, within the limits of 
the above named Company's charter, whether to attack or injure the 
enemy, or to export salt, timber, tobacco, cotton, &c, as well as other wares 
or merchandises, the growth thereof. 

1. 
Folio 866. First, we hereby declare that we annul and quash all former orders and 

Regulation of the .. . . , . , .- _ . . 

West India ompa- regulations, by and pursuant to which all ships in the respective provinces, 

ny on the opening 

of the trade. whether armed or unarmed, offensive or defensive, or engaged in private trade, 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: III. 223 

carrying timber, salt, tobacco, cotton or other fruits and wares, the growth thereof, were 
empowered to resort to certain parts within the charter of the West India Company, howsoever, 
and at whatever time they might have been enacted, published and executed ; and do enact, 
decree and ordain anew, that the ships of the aforesaid inhabitants shall be at liberty 
henceforth to sail in the West Indies, to wit, from the River Oronoco, westward along the coast 
of Paria, Cumana, Venezuela, Carthagena, Porto Bello, Honduras, Campeachy, the Gulf of 
Mexico and the coast of Florida ; also, between and around all the Islands situate within the 
said district, even to Curasao, Buenaire and Aruba, without being at liberty to go further 
eastward on the Wild Coast, much less to the Amasons or Maraigum, nor more northerly than 
Cape Florida, nor for any cause or in any wise, to be at liberty to resort to the Virginiast 
New Netherland, New France, and other places lying thereabout, or to be able to go to or on 
the coasts of Africa, Brazil or elsewhere, wheresoever it may be, where the Company trades, 
under a penalty, for whomsoever shall infringe or act contrary to the same, of forfeiting ship 
and goods, which everywhere, even without previous prosecution, shall be seized and held as 
forfeit for the Company's behoof; and in case such ships or goods be sold, or run into other 
countries or harbors, the skippers, owners or charter-party, shall have execution issue against 
them for the value of said ships and goods, according to the first article of the charter. 

2. 

The ships which will repair to the before mentioned permitted parts within the charter, must 
be provided with clearance and authority from the General Incorporated West India Company, 
at the Assembly of the XIX, which shall be issued to the skippers, owners or charter-party, in 
the Chamber from which they shall conclude to send out their respective ships, under the 
penalty that those who let their ship or ships sail without the aforesaid clearance and authority, 
shall fall within the meaning of the first article of the charter granted to the West Tndia 
Company, and be accordingly forthwith treated as contraveners ; and, also, before obtaining 
such permit, a pertinent return must be made of the name of the captain or skipper, also the 
name and tonnage of the ships, with their guns and men ; and as it is not intended to license 
the ship or ships, returned in manner as aforesaid, merely to trade in or carry timber, salt, 
tobacco or cotton, and all other wares and merchandises, the growth of the aforesaid limits, 
but it is, also, designed to commit offensively and defensively, every hostility and damage on 
the King of Castile's subjects, they shall be also obliged to take with them a commission from 
his Highness the Lord Prince of Orange, as Captain Admiral General together with the permit 
of the General Incorporated West India Company, and for further security of their precise 
observance of the tenor of the obtained commission and of this regulation, they shall be 
bound, in addition to the obligation stated in the preceding article, to enter sufficient bail 
at the Chamber where they will receive the permit in the prescribed form, on pain, if found 
neglecting so to do, of being debarred from all license, in the same manner as if none had ever 
been granted them, and of being subject to the fine and forfeit hereinbefore mentioned. 

3. 
And the aforesaid ships shall be bound to take on board one Supercargo to whom, pursuant 
to the resolution of the XIX. adopted the 4 October 1643, shall be given instruction and 

commission at the Chamber where the aforesaid ships who shall have his berth 

and table in the cabin, at the expense of the ship and her owners, his monthly wages being 



224 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

paid by the Company, and the aforesaid Supercargo shall be treated with due respect and 

propriety as well by the skippers as their officers and crew; and if any ill treat him in 

any wise either by word or deed, the skippers and their officers promise to be aiding unto him 

for his protection. 

4. 

The skippers being desirous to take with them, in the outward voyage, any goods, wares or 

merchandise in the aforesaid ships, whether as their own freight, or on commission, shall make 

true entry thereof to the Company by notice under their hand, and afterwards break bulk in 

their stores, that such goods may be inspected and marked with the Company's mark, and pay 

therefor the amount of the public convoy according to the list, before they can take such goods 

on ship board. 

5. 

The aforesaid ships, on perceiving or meeting any vessels belonging to the King of Castile's 
subjects and adherents, may attack and master them either offensively or defensively, 
but shall not be at liberty to attack or injure any of the Allies, or Inhabitants of the United 
Provinces ; they shall be obliged to observe strictly their aforesaid Commissions from the Lord 
Prince of Orange, as they are especially bound, in the aforesaid bailbonds to do. 

6. 
They shall be also bound to strike on meeting with the West India Company's ships, and 
to exhibit their permit, authority, and commission, and as long as they remain with the latter 
they must submit to the flag, without setting up any claim to either part or portion of the 
prizes which may be captured in their presence, unless they be, by the Admiral General or 
Commander of the said Company's ships, expressly requested to assist, in which case the prizes 
which shall have been captured by the Company's ships and them conjointly, shall be equally 
divided according to the ship's equipment, guns and force, and from their portion shall moreover 
be paid the Company's share, according to the rate of profit they shall happen to derive from 
such prizes, as hereinafter according to Articles ten and twelve. 

7. 

And in case any of the Company's ships propose to make an attack on any of the enemy's 
places or ships, and find some privateers also desirous to make the attempt, the said privateers 
must desist and permit the Company's ships to proceed uninterrupted with their expedition ; 
or if acting contrary, shall be subject to a forfeit of ship and goods, to be confiscated for the 
Company's benefit. 

S. 

Item ; the aforesaid ships will be at liberty to sell and dispose, within the before described 
limits of the charter, the goods, wares and merchandise they take with them, and in return to 
buy, obtain and take in others such as Timber, Salt, Tobacco, Cotton, Hides etc., the produce 
of those parts, either on their own account, or as freight or on commission, and bring them 
over here in their ships. 

9. 

Further, the skippers, or in their stead the owners and freighters, shall be bound, at the 
time of the return of the ships, before they break bulk, to address the Directors at the Chamber 
or place from which they sailed, and by manifest under their signature must correctly return 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: III. 225 

the quantity or quality of the prizes or goods, wares and merchandises which they will have taken, 
traded, or received on charter during the voyage, and then with the consent of said Directors 
discharge the aforesaid goods and bring them into the Company's stores to be inspected, 
computed and weighed, and shall not be at liberty to remove them thence before the duties 
and other the Company's dues shall be satisfied in kind or money, at the choice of the Company, 
on pain, if failing herein, to be treated according to the tenor of the first article. 

10. 
From all prizes they will have captured from the enemy, South or North of the Tropic of 
Cancer, either in their voyage out or home, which shall be declared good prizes by the Court 
of Admiralty, and that as well in ships, cannon, as in goods, without any exception, they shall 
pay, as a recognition, to the Company, in addition to his Highness' right, twenty per cent, 
besides all rights to which the same shall be bound and rated as Company's prizes, and that 
from the nett proceeds to be realized by sale, without deducting any expenses of equipment 
or otherwise ; and the sale of the captured property, munitions of war, with their appurtenances, 
as well as of the cargo, must be effected at the privateer's expense. 

11. 

On the cargo, whether purchased on their own account, taken on freight, or on commission, 
there shall, in addition to the right of convoy granted by the public to the Company, be paid 
in kind or money at the Company's choice at the Chamber or place as aforesaid from which 
they cleared, as stated hereinbefore in article ten, 

And on all sorts of Red dyewood, Dried Codfish, Campeachy wood, ten per centum. 

Brazil wood, seven and a half per cent. 

Lignum vitas, yellow wood, five per cent. 

On Sugars, one-third part shall be paid in kind. 

Imported tobacco shall not pay for convoy and recognition any more than sixty stivers per 
hundred pounds, from which one-fourth shall be deducted as allowance for stems, rottenness, 
dampness or other damage ; but the foreign tobacco of Marocive shall pay twenty guilders per 
pound, with like allowance. 

12. 

On Salt no more shall be paid than is granted to all inhabitants of this province by agreement 
entered into (respecting the difference) between some cities of the North Quarter and the 
Company, with this understanding, that they shall pay on the Salt taken from places where 
the Company hath establishments, according to the order already made and hereafter to be 
concluded thereupon. 

13. 

Cotton, Hides, and all other wares and produce, the growth of the West Indies, eight per cent. 

14. 

And in order that the Inhabitants of these United Countries may be at liberty to trade and 
sail with strange and foreign ships, so shall, likewise, all strange and foreign vessels bringing 
into these countries Timber, Salt, Tobacco, and all other the aforesaid wares, fruits and 
merchandises from the West Indies or the Limits of the Charter granted to the Company, 
whether on their own account, on freight or on commission, convey and bring the same into 
Vol. I. 29 



226 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

the Company's stores in manner as in article ten is hereinbefore recited, and accordingly 
pay the above named Company the convoy and such other duties as the Inhabitants and ships 
of these countries are bound to do, whether such foreign and strange ships come direct to this 
country from the West Indies and limits of the charter in order that their freight may be 
brought to other countries or kingdoms, from what cause soever that may happen, unless the 
goods were obtained in exchange from the owner where they grew, and had paid the duty 
there imposed; which any one alleging, he shall be bound sufficiently to prove on the 
importation of the goods, in order that the intention of the State and the Company may not 
be frustrated herein. 

15. 
All skippers, owners and freighters of ships belonging to these countries trading to the 
aforesaid permitted Limits of the Charter, shall be bound to return with their ships and all 
their cargo, and captured prizes or prize goods, to this country to the Chamber whence they 
sailed, under the penalty of the ship and goods, or the value thereof, to be recovered as in 
Articles one and two, without being allowed to discharge, diminish, trade or barter by the way 
any of the freighted or captured goods, wares or merchandises, much less to bring them over 
as freight for others to any where else than this country. 

16. 

It is further resolved, that the respective Chambers, each among themselves, shall be at 
liberty to commission one or more persons to visit and search the outgoing and incoming 
vessels ; for which visit and search the general Inspectors in the public service, and each and 
every of them, shall be also qualified, on application to the Company, and are hereby qualified, 
with authority on finding any unentered goods, to send them up to be declared seized or 
confiscated by the respective Magistrates of the Cities, or the Court of Admiralty for the 
benefit of the Company. 

17. 

Which aforesaid deputies shall have power to search any ship or ships entering any of the 
ports in this country, to place on board at least two trust-worthy persons as watchmen, so that 
the Company may not be defrauded on the way,between the aforesaid ports and the destined 
places of unloading, and the skippers, officers or crew shall not embarrass the aforesaid 
watchmen either by word or deed, nor obstruct them in the proper discharge of their duty, 
under a penalty of ,£50 flemish, to be received, one half by the officer of the place who shall 
levy execution, and the other half by the injured watchman, and the skipper shall be 
responsible for his men. 

18. 

And in order that each and every one shall receive information and notice hereof, we have 
resolved to cause the same to be notified by handbills affixed at every place interested therein, 
and to have the skippers, owners or freighters furnished, for their information, with a printed 
copy of this Regulation, signed by the Directors, together with the Company's permit and 
authority, at the Chamber, where the latter are obtained, receipt whereof the skippers, owners 
or freighters shall acknowledge on the Bailbond, also under their signature. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: III. 227 

19. 
On the return of the ships from the voyage, the skipper, owner or freighter shall he bound 
to surrender the permit or authority obtained from the said Incorporated West India Company, 
together with the commission of his Highness, the Prince of Orange, if any he has had, back 
to the Chamber whence it was received within the space of six days, on pain, in case of failing 
herein, of paying a sum of three hundred guilders of XL. groots for the benefit of the poor. 

20. 

Moreover, in order that this Regulation be observed and enforced by those of the West 
India Company, and that no license or authority to trade within the limits of the Charter be 
granted except by those of the General Incorporated West India Company at the Assembly of the 
XIX., it is expressly declared, that all those who shall sail with their authority to the permitted 
Limits of the Charter, shall be instructed and authorized to demand from all ships belonging 
to this country, which will be met with, in those parts, their license and commission, and 
finding them without that of the General Company to be furnished at the Assembly of the 
XIX., the ships provided therewith shall be empowered to drive them from the loading or 
trading places, in addition to the penalty incurred by them for the Company's benefit, which 
the skippers, owners or freighters thereof shall be empowered to demand again from those 
by whom such were licensed and commissioned. 

Thus provisionally enacted and resolved by the General Incorporated West India Company 
at the Assembly of the XIX., with the approbation of the High and Mighty Lords States 
General of the United Netherlands, at Middelburgh, in Zealand, the 14 th October, 1645. 

Free Trade. 7. The seventh and last place is New Netherland, which the majority consider 

will be best benefited by granting individuals there the liberty to convey, in their own ships, 
their country produce, grain, flour, fish and other provisions, from thence to other places situate 
within the Company's Charter, on proper recognitions; which liberty some members restrict 
to Brazil, others to all the places of the Charter, except Guinea and St. Thomas. 

Second point — Of Retrenchment and Reform. 

Keiurm. In treating of the second point, the Chambers unanimously declare they are 

not aware but this has been studied as much as possible; yet should your High Mightinesses 
be conscious of any thing to the contrary, they are most willing to submit to your High 
Mightinesses' discretion. In order, however, to afford some opportunity for such action, these 
following points were, by one and the other Chamber, submitted for consideration : 

1. Whether the Company's own large ships ought not to be sold, or only a certain number 
of them retained ? 

2. Ought not the Company disembarrass itself of the large quantity of cannon, &c, which 
is still here and there among the Chambers? 

3. Ought not the dock yards, rope-walks and drug stores be sold"? 

4. Could not the number of Directors be reduced ; or salaries which they receive, diminished ? 

5. Ought not the Provincial and City Directors be domiciled at the place where the 
Chambers to which they belong are located? 

6. Could not the Assembly of the XIX. be held less frequently ; and would it not be better 
attended here in the Hague than at Amsterdam and Zealand ? 



228 NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

7. Ought it not be resolved that all goods be sold for current silver money? 
S. Can any better order be made for increasing the gold from Guinea? 

9. Must the defective Chambers supply their lists? 

10. Ought not equalization be introduced between the respective Chambers? 

The third "point — Of Ways and Means. 
subsistence. In order to allow the Company to recuperate, and to subsist for the future, the 

respective Chambers consider these two means necessary. 

1. First, that the Brazilian conquests be purged at the public charge and by the public force; 
the petition for six thousand men is to that effect. 

2. Secondly, that it ought to receive the East India Company's duties to the amount of 
fifteen hundred thousand guilders, pursuant to your High Mightinesses' resolution. In addition 
to these general means, the majority of the Chambers add some special means as follows : — 
on reconsideration, 3. Those of Zealand — that the public ought to pay the arrears of the subsidy 

the Deputies from . ■ , r i j 

zoaiand say, that amounting to about seventy tons ot gold. 

they ask the afore- -,-... ,*• i i i i t -ii i 

said supplies only 4. And vote a new additional supply of seven hundred thousand guilders yearly 

until the Company '' ' a J J 

can subsist by itself. f or tne term f t h e new charter. 

5. Amsterdam. — That the State ought to be solicited to assume the responsibility of the 
Company's obligations. 

6. Maaze — That in addition to the two general means, the State ought to be requested to 
aid the Company with a yearly subsidy of three hundred and fifty thousand guilders for the 
new Charter, on account of the old subsidies ; and these three means being realized, 
the stockholders ought to be persuaded to advance ten per cent in order to pay the old debts 
and to have a trading fund. 

7. West Friesland and the North Quarter are of opinion, if affairs be redressed and brought 
in train according to their advice, that the Company will be sufficiently able to exist of itself. 

8. Stadt en Land 1 requires only payment of the subsidies in arrear, in addition to the 
general means hereinbefore mentioned. 

These are, in fact, three points whereupon run the opinions of the respective Chambers each 
in an especial manner; except that the Zealand Chamber gave, in addition, its opinion on 
the articles of the old Charter, as they ought, in their estimation, be altered and improved. 

Advice of the Deputies of Holland, with the opinions of the several Chambers. 
N° 6. Advice of the Deputies of Holland. 

Redress, Retrenchment, Subsistence 
and Trade. 

To the Noble, Great and Mighty Lords, the 
States of Holland and Westfriesland. 

Noble, great and Mighty Lords ! 

1. 

The Members deputed at the Meeting of your The present deputed Directors of the 
Great Mightinesses by your resolution of the respective Chambers of the West India 

1 See Note, »»pra, p. 163. — Ed. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: III. 



229 



1" July, 1647, to attend to the establishment Company, having pursuant to the order of the 

of good and proper order in the government of deputies of the High and Mighty Lords States 

the Incorporated West India Company, and General, examined the annexed advice, have 

the redress of all such matters and abuses as adjoined thereunto, as their opinions, what 

might have been found to exist to the prejudice stands noted in the margin on each point 

of said Company, having heard the verbal thereof. 

information of the present deputed Directors 

of the aforesaid Company, and read and 

examined the written remonstrance to them 

delivered — Item, the respective written 

opinions of each of the five Chambers of said 

Company in particular, and of all its Chambers 

conjointly or in common ; also of the deputies 

of the General Chamber of accounts of the 

abovementioned Company, all delivered in to 

the High and Mighty Lords States General of 

these United Netherlands in pursuance of their 

High Mightinesses' order and letter of the 30 th 

March, 1647; Find, that for the restoration of 

the West India Company, three chief points 

are principally to be considered, to wit, First, 

the Management in regard to Navigation 

and Trade. 



Secondly, Retrenchment and redress ; and 
Thirdly, Means of support; and that upon all 
these points very good suggestions have been 
made in the written Memoir of the aforesaid 
joint or general advice of the deputed Directors 
of the respective Companies whereunto they 
refer, except that certain articles relating to 
hostility or enmity shall cease in time of peace. 



But, under correction of your Great 
Mightinesses, they are moreover of opinion, 
that the following would be also beneficial and 
advantageous to the aforesaid Direction : That 
individuals trading to Brazil shall cause the 
duties, freights and convoys to be paid in 
Brazil to six Commissaries to be appointed 
by the respective Chambers, with certain 
instruction to be drawn up for said Commis- 
saries, and on the plan more fully detailed in 



2go NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

the advice of the Chamber of Westfriesland 
and North Quarter. 

4. 
Which Commissaries shall pay the Military 
in Brazil on the footing, and according to the 
regulation, laid down in the aforesaid advice 
of the Chamber of Westfriesland and North 
Quarter, out of the duties, freights and 
convoys; also, out of about three hundred 
thousand guilders to be sent them from 
Fatherland, in flour and other dry goods; 
out of the recognitions and convoys of the 
country produce exported by permission in 
private vessels from New Netherland to Brazil, 
and out of the Spanish wines and oils imported 
from the Islands, also out of the three per cent 
on the goods from Angola, sent from thence 
to Brazil, in consequence of want of sale, and 
from the 30 and 50 florins per head., on each 
slave respectively. 

5. 
Your Great Mightinesses' deputies being of 
opinion that for the tenths of the sugars, duty, 
freight and convoy, the Chambers in this 
country shall receive, at the lowest calculation, 
one half in kind ; that is, of two chests, one. 

6. 

Also, that no wet wares shall be sent on the 
Company's account, but only flour, beef, pork, 
oil, butter, dried codfish and cheese, leaving the 
aforesaid wet goods exclusively to individuals 
who will be at liberty, on permission, or on 
excusable reasons and immediate notice, to 
export from the Islands aforesaid, Spanish 
wines and oils in their own or private ships, 
on paying the duty and convoy in Brazil to 
the aforesaid Commissaries of the respective 
Chambers. 

7. 
That the Slave trade at Ardra and Calbraye, The Directors are of opinion, that the trade 

ought to be reserved to the aforesaid Company, here mentioned, ought to be pursued on a plan 

on the regulation made thereupon. there laid down. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: III. 



231 



8. 
That the north coast of Africa can be 
resorted to by the joint vessels bringing the 
proceeds of their trade to the Castle Del Mina, 
in order lhat it may come pro rata to the 
respective Chambers. 



The coast of Guinea ought, according to the 
enacted regulation, be frequented in turns by 
the respective Chambers, but what regards the 
remainder of the north coast, the management 
thereof shall remain provisionally as it is. 



That the inhabitants of New Netherland The trade of the inhabitants of New 

only, ought to be at liberty to export the Netherland ought to be permitted to Brazil and 

produce growing there to all the Company's Angola, in manner as mentioned on the 

conquests, except Guinea and St. Thomas, and opposite side, 
that on payment of the duty and convoy in 
manner as before mentioned. 

10. 
That noChamber nor any individual Director The order and penalty enacted on the other 
shall have power to reduce any duty, nor to side, ought to be observed; 
rate any goods at less than laid down in the 
general list thereof, under the penalty, for the 
Directors so doing, of making good the same 
themselves, and of being, moreover, removed 
from their employment. 



11. 

That the Directors of the respective Cham- 
bers shall not, either directly nor indirectly, 
endeavor to overreach one another with the 
crew, nor seek to draw trade away from one 
city to the other. 

12. 

That their High Mightinesses' approval 
ought to be requested for the regulation more 
fully contained in the aforesaid Memoir, 
respecting the Caribbean Traders. 

13. 

What now regards the aforesaid second point, 
of retrenchment and redress, the aforesaid, 
your Great Mightinesses' deputies are, with 
submission, of opinion that all old, unserviceable, 
unnecessary vessels and yachts, together with 
the heavy guns, also the Company's store- 
houses, ship yards, rope walks and drug 
stores, ought to be sold and got rid of for its 
advantage. 



As well as what is here enacted. 



And the approval of the regulation respecting 
the Caribbean traders, which is requested. 



The unnecessary ships, yachts and guns, are, 
for the most part, already sold ; but what 
regards the disposing of the store-houses, ship 
yards, rope walks and drug stores, that concerns 
exclusively the Amsterdam Chamber, which 
hath promised to examine into and give orders 
respecting the same. 



232 



NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 



14. 

Also, that all the Company's unnecessary The respective Chambers undertake to 
servants, both in this country and abroad, dismiss all useless servants, 
ought to be dismissed. 

15. 

That, in like manner, the factors whom In like manner no more factors shall be 
the outer Chambers have introduced into employed at Amsterdam by the Chambers, 
Amsterdam, contrary to the 26 th Article of the except by Zealand and Stadt en Lande, on 
Charter, ought to be dispensed with, because account of the distance of their places, 
they draw wages from said Chambers, and pay 
separate store rent; and there ought to be such 
good correspondence between the respective 
Chambers and Directors, that the one transact 
the other's business, as is the case with the 
East India Company. 

16. 

That no moneys shall be borrowed on The adjoining article ought to be, in future, 
interest for the West India Company, except enforced, 
with the knowledge and consent of the 
Nineteen. 

17. 
That in matters of taxation, &c, conflicting In the matter of the plurality voting, the 
with the Charter, there shall be no plurality tenor of the charter ought to be observed, 
voting. 

18. 
That the aforesaid XIX. shall assemble The place of meeting of the XIX. shall be 
ordinarily but once a year, and if necessity as heretofore, and must not be as stated in the 
require, shall hold an extraordinary meeting annexed article, 
within the City of Amsterdam if accommoda- 
tion only can be obtained. 

19. 

Moreover, said Assembly of the XIX., at its The Commissioners ought indeed be appoint- 

adjournment, shall appoint certain Commis- ed by the Assembly of the XIX., but in regard 

sioners from among the Directors, each in the to, and in correspondence with, the general 

city where his Chamber is established, which Board of accounts, to which alone, and accor- 



Commissioners shall, each in his place, take 
care and see that the resolutions of the XIX. 
shall be well and punctually executed and 
obeyed, and this without expense to the 
Company, except their boat and carriage hire, 
which shall be charged to the said Company. 



ding to their instruction, belongs the superin- 
tendence here mentioned. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: III. 



233 



20. 



Resolution hereupon ought to be requested 
from their High Mightinesses. 



That the Commissioners who appear in the 
Assembly of the XIX., on behalf of their High 
Mightinesses, shall henceforth travel, board, 
and attend at the expense of the State, and 
not of the Company. 

21. 

That the Military or soldiers in the Com- The annexed article is found very useful, 
pany's service shall be paid in money in this but is as yet impracticable in consequence of 
manner, to wit: of each year on foreign the unfavorable condition of the Company, 
service, six months shall be retained ; two for 
the wives and children, and the remaining 
four months shall remain until the return of 
the aforesaid men ; but those who have neither 
wives nor children, shall be at liberty to 
dispose of the aforesaid two months' pay for 
the benefit of such other persons as they shall 
think proper, and this for the term of three 
years, according to the articles of enlistment. 

22. 
That the number in the Board of Directors The Commissioners have no objection to the 
ought to be reduced on the occasion of death diminution of the Directors, and hereby leave 
and of the change which must take place this to the discretion of the Board, 
according to the Charter; and that to such 
amount as the members of the Board shall 
agree upon among themselves. 



As well as the order which ought to be 
enacted respecting these two points. 



23. 

And that each of said Directors shall 
henceforth serve nine years instead of six. 

24. 
And be obliged continually to reside within 
the cities where their Chambers are estab- 
lished. 

25. 

And as regards the premised Chief point 
respecting the aforesaid means of subsistence, 
your great Mightinesses' Commissioners are, 
under correction, of opinion — 

26. 
That besides the provisional aid required fl. 7,S00 V to wit: fl. 6,300 v of money bor- 
for the Company, and what is connected rowed on interest, and fl. 1,500 T of current and 
Vol. I. 30 



234 



NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 



therewith, the aforesaid general Board of accruing debts ; the credits in the country, 

Accounts ought to prepare and deliver in a just, independent of the property in storehouses, 

subscribed statement of debits and credits ; yards, ships and cannon, are few or none, 

also, of the effects which the Company possesses Those of Brazil were included in them, 
at home and abroad. 



27. 

And the deputed Members submit to your 
Great Mightinesses, whether the Board ought 
not seasonably to consider how and in what 
manner its debts shall best be paid. 

28. 
And moreover, a pertinent statement ought 
to be prepared and exhibited by their High 
Mightinesses' Secretary and by the aforesaid 
General Board of accounts, also by all the Cham- 
bers of the West India Company, respectively, 
of the subsidies voted the aforesaid Company 
by the Provinces, and of the sum paid thereon, 
and consequently of the amount of subsidies 
still due by the State or the Provinces. 

29. 

That further efforts ought to be made in The Company in general ought to request 
order that the provinces, in consequence of simply to be relieved from all money taken a 
their neglect to pay respectively the aforesaid deposito. 
voted subsidies, may undertake to discharge or 
relieve the Company from the moneys borrowed 
on interest on their account. 



Yes ; the Board ought to be requested to 
consider how the Company shall best be 
relieved of its debts. 



The votes of subsidies ought to be taken 
according to the estimate of the increase and 
the petitions of the Council of State consequent 
thereupon, that is up to the close and last of 
the year of the old Charter, being in ten years 
7,000 v guilders ; what portion thereof has been 
paid by the one or the other province can be 
seen by the last statement of the General Board 
of Accounts. 



30. 

That in the foregoing required statement 
ought to be noted, what provinces have not 
thus far voted subsidies for the Company, nor 
paid these when voted as Holland has done ; 
and the provinces in arrears ought then to be 
admonished, to clear up their deficiency so far 
as to be on a par, in votes and payments, with 
Holland and Westfriesland. 



The first part of the annexed article has been 
complied with, and what regards the remainder 
the Board will act as it deems most proper. 



31. 



That further the Provinces all together ought Instead of the proposed new subsidy of 

to be requested, by petition, to continue hence- fl. 700 T a year as long as the war in Brazil 

forward the votes and payments of the subsidy continues, the State ought to be requested to 

of seven hundred thousand guilders a year for support the entire army there and to pay its 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: III. 



235 



the Company so long as the war in Brazil wages and food until it can be paid from the 

shall last, and until the Company's affairs tenths and other revenues there. 

there shall be reestablished, and that such 

order be given in the province that the moneys 

of each voted instalment be as promptly 

furnished. 

32. 

That finally, the stockholders of the West The Directors trust that on the adoption of 

India Company ought to be required and a resolution to the effect aforesaid by the Board, 

obliged to increase their stock in said Company for the advantage of the Company, the worthy 



twelve per cent ; one-third part of said increase 
payable six weeks after having received notice 
so to do ; the second instalment in six months 
afterwards, and the last instalment six months 
subsequently. 

33. 

That one-half the proceeds of this increase 
shall be applied to the trade or commerce of 
said Company. 

34. 

Your Great Mightinesses' Commissioners are 
further of opinion that the Plenipotentiaries 
deputed from this State to negotiate the peace, 
ought to be instructed to urge, when opportu- 
nity offers, on the Spanish Plenipotentiaries, 
for the benefit of the West India Company of 
this country, the free trade to Ponto del Rey, 
or the Salt point, according to said Company's 
Charter. 



Stockholders will be disposed to add a new 
clause for the negotiation and contents hereof. 



Advice of the Chamber of Accounts of the West India Compa?iy. 

Considerations of the Board of Audit of the West India Company regarding 
the reform of said Company, drawn up pursuant to the order of the High 
and Mighty Lords States General of the United Netherlands and delivered 
to their High Mightinesses' Commissioners at the Hague, the 27 May, 1647. 

cha^etofAccount! The decline of the Company's affairs and the difficulty in which they are at 
Bedrew. present placed, arise on the one hand from divers disorders in this country and bad 

management in the foreign conquests (which have for a longtime past impaired the Company), 
and on the other, from some unfortunate occurrences in Brazil, Angola and elsewhere, which have 
completely prostrated and ruined it. Two-fold means of redress must consequently be 



236 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

discovered and applied. First : to reestablish the Company in its lost or disturbed possessions. 
Secondly: to enact such firm and good orders that the Company will not only be maintained 
in its ordinary course, and continue to subsist, but may in time be brought to a flourishing state. 

In regard to the recovery of the conquest of Brazil, we see no other means of accomplishing 
that, than what has lately been submitted by the committee of the Directors of the respective 
Chambers to your High Mightinesses at the Hague, to wit : that in addition to the aid 
already dispatched, (which was not found sufficient against such a united body of Portuguese 
rebels,) a competent and combined military force be voted anew by the State, and conveyed 
to Brazil with ships, ammunition and other necessaries, not only to recover and clear our 
frontiers, but also to prosecute further designs either against Bahia, as the chief seat of the 
war and of the piratical practices of the Portuguese, or elsewhere. The Company, once 
relieved by these means, of its treacherous neighbors, could disembarrass itself of the onerous 
charge of the military, and of the support of several fortresses; the freemen would be induced 
to establish themselves peaceably in said conquests, without fearing to be again stripped of their 
plantations (ingenhos) and goods, and by the increase of population and agriculture, the 
Company would be at once set on its legs. Short of this, we see no remedy for the reparation 
of the damages the Company has already suffered, except by indemnifying ourselves with the 
enemy's full and flourishing plantations (ingenhos) and lands; inasmuch as it is to be feared 
that our entire and wasted district, if not soon redressed, will not supply as much produce and 
revenue as will equal the Company's expenses. 

Respecting Angola: it must be borne in mind that our people do no not fare much better 
there than in Brazil, inasmuch as we are advised by the latest letters, dated last May, that the 
Portuguese in the interiorhaving received a great accession of force, had, after a victory 
obtained over the Queen Donna Anna Ciuga, united with some tribes of Blacks, to drive our 
people wholly from that country. Our folks in Loando are too weak to act in company with 
them ; and are very poorly supplied with provisions, and especially munitions of war, none of 
which has been now sent them for over a year. Cut off, also, on the land side, and blockaded in 
their forts and in the city of Loando, they probably can not make a long stand, but will at last 
be forced either to treat with the enemy, or indeed wholly to abandon the country, (as was 
the case with Maranhao in the year 1644.) unless they receive prompt succor in provisions and 
other necessaries, in order temporarily to maintain these conquests. A plan could be considered, 
and arrangements made to dislodge the Portuguese governor, Sotto Mayor, with his troops 
either by stratagem or force; for which purpose three or four hundred men ought to be 
transported from Brazil after they had completed their designs there. 

The recovery of both these conquests is particularly important, as they are partially the 
foundation on which the Company must hereafter rest; the commerce with Guinea, St. Thomas 
and adjoining trading places, not being sufficient to feed so huge a body. Moreover, they 
have cost the Company and individuals so many millions, and can contribute so essentially to 
the damage of the general enemy and the security of this State, that your High Mightinesses 
will be induced in your wisdom and generosity to contribute further aid, and to vote for a short 
period, the oft requested succor, which indeed ought to be done early, if possible, considering 
that the number of soldiers and sailors already in Brazil, at great expense to the Company, 
will otherwise remain useless and ineffective, and the most favorable season and opportunity 
for the execution of any thing worth mentioning, would have passed away, not to be afterwards 
retrieved, except at double the outlay. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: III. 237 

The aforesaid conquests being thus, with the assistance of God, recovered, further means of 
redress, in the matter of superintendence, retrenchment and trade of said Company, could be 
taken in hand and promoted as follows: — 

First — Respecting Superintendence. 
Superinien-icnco. The government of the Company consists as well in supervision by the Directors 

in this country, as in the good order and administration to be maintained by the officers and 
servants in foreign conquests. 

In this country we must treat, first, Of the election of the Board of Directors; secondly, Of 
their management and administration. As Directors, ought to be chosen not only men 
conversant, active and vigilant in business, but also those who can properly attend to it, and 
are not too much engaged in private trade, by means whereof it happens that they frequently 
absent themselves from ordinary meetings, and, excusing themselves from duty, the burthen 
devolves on some few persons. 

Amsterdam,.... 27 Hereupon it is to be duly considered, that the number of Directors, which with 
Maazi ■!'.'.'.'. ".'.'.'. n the Supernumeraries, consists at present of 89 persons, could be diminished at 

North Quarter, .14 , • i , , . ■ 

Groeningen,.... u least one-third, and reduced to two-thirds without prejudice to the business to be 
89 transacted by the Company, provided that the Supernumeraries be obliged to 
remove their domicil to the place where the Chambers are established, and render effectual 
service like the rest, and this particularly, with a view to furnish their respective superiors 
and stockholders with information and a knowledge of the Company's condition. And this 
reduction should be effected, not only because the great number of Directors frequently produces 
confusion and lack of zeal among themselves, but also to save a portion of the salaries received 
by the Directors, which, likewise, according to the present condition of the Company, can be 
lessened, as will hereafter be stated in the section on Retrenchment. It could be gradually 
introduced and put into practice according as the Directors retire, on the expiration of their 
term, or upon their death, provided no new ones be chosen iu their places, until reduced to 
the appointed number. 

In order to encourage the Directors the more in their duties in this regard, and that the 
Company may not experience any inconvenience from the too rapid change thereof, the term 
of their office ought to be extended somewhat longer than by the old charter; or the retiring 
Directors ought to be at least reeligible after the expiration of their term, the same as if they 
were nominated anew by the chief stockholders, in addition to those whom they by triple 
number may put on the ticket; this would have a tendency to excite the vigilance and zeal 
of the good, which on the other hand oftentimes becomes faint towards the close of their term. 

The administration of the Board of Directors consists either in particular Chambers, or in 
the general meeting of the entire, or of the half, of the Nineteen. 

The Charter fixes the number of Chambers at five ; of these Amsterdam hath the management 
of four-ninth parts; Zealand, of two; and Maaze, North Quarter and Groeningen, each of { 
part. Again, the Maaze Chamber is divided, after the three cities, 1 into three Boards; those 
of the North Quarter into two; 2 each of which, as well as each Chamber, of 4, 2, and |-, has 
its separate government, with little direct communication with the others ; each in particular 
hath, also, its own Bookkeepers, Cashiers, storekeepers, houses, yards, stores and whatever 

1 Rotterdam, Dordreeht, Delft. a Hoorn, Enekbuyzen. — En. 



238 NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

else appertains thereunto, not without confusion and burthensomeness to the Company. 
Therefore, it would be well, if the three cities were thereunto disposed, that the three Boards 
of the Maaze were united into one, and the two of the North Quarter brought into one 
Chamber, which should be ambulatory in their respective districts according to the years the 
Charter is continued. For example, residing alternately in each of the three cities on the Maaze 
for the term of four years, and each term would come around twice; and alternating in like 
manner every four years in the two cities of the North Qurter, so that each city would have 
to arrange its turn by lot or otherwise ; and when the Chamber resides in the one city for 
four years, the Bookkeeper, clerks, storekeeper, with all the adjuncts, must live there ; and 
the Directors of the cities in which the Chamber was not, at the then present time established, 
or at least some of them, must also remove their residence thither, on condition that such 
Directors receive a larger stipend than their associates who do not change residence; and the 
others must attend as often as summoned by the Chambers. The ships should also be 
equipped and fitted out during the aforesaid term of four years, in that city where the Chamber 
resides ; but the purchase of the cargoes and necessaries, as far as it could be effected 
advantageously for the Company, might be ordered to be done in the cities where the 
remaining Directors reside. And on the expiration of the first four years, they should remove, 
with all the attendants, to the second place ; in the same manner as the Board of Admiralty 
is in the habit of doing in the two cities of Hoorn and Enckhuyzen. 

Moreover, the Directors must be obliged to attend the weekly meeting, on pain of a 
reasonable fine, or the deduction of so much of their salary as that day shall amount to, 
inasmuch as it has otherwise occurred that they frequently absent themselves, according to their 
own convenience; acquiring no thorough nor connected knowledge of affairs, nor being able to 
advise fundamentally on any business that may arise. The details of each Chamber may 
be distributed within itself, among different Commissaries, to wit: to take charge of accounts 
and the office, the cash; the merchandise; the stores; the wet and dry provisions. In regard 
to their administration, they ought to keep a register and books, in order to render an account 
at the Assembly, and to furnish at all times a statement without hiring bookkeepers and clerks, 
particularly for that purpose, or increasing unnecessarily the number of dependents. This will 
be also referred to in the section — Of Retrenchment. 

In order that one Commissary may have a knowledge of the other's work, and a thorough 
acquaintance with the Company's affairs, it would be useful to change the clerks, sometimes; 
nay, without giving notice, in order that the one may not conceal any thing from the other, but 
that it may lie plain and open before every one of the Directors. The trouble and commission 
imposed on each by his Chamber, especially such as being deputed by the general vote of the 
Board to repair to the XIX., or beyond the city, ought to be undertaken and attended to by 
every one, without exception, so that each work may be performed by those who are 
considered best adapted for it; should such be declined, without sufficient cause, the person so 
declining ought, in like manner be mulcted in a portion of his salary, which shall be 
appropriated to the benefit of such other as executes his commission; on returning home, each 
ought to render a report in writing of what he hath done, in order that it may always be seen 
in what condition the matter stands,- so as to be regulated accordingly in the sequel of the 
affair. These and similar regulations, which are enforced in the beginning, and afterwards 
fallen into desuetude, ought to be introduced and kept up in each Chamber according to the 
constitution and administration it may have, so that all may be henceforth directed therein, 
with increased knowledge and order. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: III. 239 

The Assembly of the XIX., wherein all matters appertaining to the Company must be 
treated and concluded, has not for a considerable time, had such speedy despatch and expedition 
as the Company's service indeed required ; for, first, the points of reference being drawn up 
according to the resolution of a Chamber, which temporarily presides, and frequently not 
including all the important points, the members, do not always come instructed thereupon 
with thorough knowledge of affairs, nor provided with complete directions from their Board, 
and do not appear at the appointed time; but leave the one waiting in vain for the other, to 
the injury and great expense of the Company. On proceeding to business, the points are not 
finally disposed of, but frequently referred to the next meeting; incidental matters and mutual 
disputes consume the most of the time; and what has been resolved on there, with the general 
advice of the members, is frequently, through particular interest or inability of the one or the 
other Chamber, neither attended to nor executed. 

In order to remedy and prevent these disorders in part, there was established by the XIX., 
in the year 1643, at the instance of their High Mightinesses' deputies, a Board of Accounts, 
composed of six persons; to wit, two from the Amsterdam Chamber, and one from each of 
the other Chambers, who were to prepare and report all the matters to be transacted by the 
XIX. against the meeting of that body; further, keep accounts with all the Chambers in this 
country, as well as with the foreign conquests; and compile from these, general books which 
would show the condition of the Company at all times; they were to make a repartition of 
receipts and expenses, and decide the disputes arising therefrom, with a view to maintain 
equality and proportion as well as good correspondence between the Chambers; also, to attend 
to the execution of the resolves of the XIX., as is more fully to be seen by the instruction of 
the aforesaid Board of Accounts. But that Board having experienced divers obstacles from its 
beginning to the present time, and not being clothed with sufficient authority to hold the 
Chambers to their duty ; and the various papers and documents not being even submitted to 
it from the respective Chambers, the essential knowledge of their administration could not 
be obtained. 

Nevertheless, we cannot yet see any fitter means of keeping in order the entire body of the 
Company and each Chamber in particular, than the establishment of such a general and 
permanent body, on a plan similar to that of said Board of Accounts, but furnished with greater 
authority for the execution of its office; which Board must possess, in the absence of the 
XIX., the direction and disposition of all ordinary affairs; the execution punctually at their 
time of all incidental matters, not admitting of delay, until further orders from the XIX. ; 
sending orders thereupon, as well to Brazil as to the respective Chambers; pointing out 
the means, how and whereby the Chambers respectively can execute the same. To 
which end, the respective Chambers must also be bound to furnish and send over to the 
said Board, from time to time, a pertinent statement of their condition, in order that it 
regulate itself accordingly; and in case of non-compliance with any of these orders, the 
aforesaid Board must be authorized to impose a fine on those Chambers for such failure and 
neglect, (unless it appear that they were prevented by potent and unexpected accidents), 
and cause their accounts here, or in Brazil, or other places, to be charged with such fine, and 
allow them to receive so much the less returns; or, on the commission of grave faults 
and negligences, to speak personally to the Directors, who are guilty thereof; which Board, 
as possessing constant knowledge of the affairs, must also summon the Assembly of the XIX., 
on points to be drawn up by it, giving timely notice thereof both to the presiding and other 



240 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Chambers, in order to receive their opinions and embody these in the points of reference, if 
necessary, that all the members may be notified and instructed thereupon, so as to afford 
satisfaction to others, without referring to, or delaying for, their Chamber, whereby many 
good things are left unexecuted. 

In like manner, in order to dispose more promptly of the business of the XIX., two persons, 
members of the Board, ought to appear at each meeting of the Assembly of the XIX. with 
mere advisory voice, for the purpose of reporting to, and advising the XIX. on what passes ; 
to obviate sundry disputes between the Chambers and the better to have the orders and 
resolutions to be adopted by the XIX. executed conformably to their intention. By this means 
frequent and lengthy sessions of the XIX., at vast expense to the Company, might be dispensed 
with, and these need not be held more than once, or at most, twice a year, for which time all 
business should be prepared by the aforesaid permanent Board, and full information and 
explanation given of the circumstances of the foreign conquests, as well as of the state of the 
receipts and expenses, and the entire condition as well of the general Company as of each 
particular Chamber. Thus all inequality and disproportion between these is remedied, and 
principally the troubles and canker of jealousy among the Chambers removed or diminished ; 
inasmuch as those proceed mainly from the fact, that the one Chamber does its business 
without communicating with the other; each pays more attention to his own Chamber's profit 
than to that of the general body; yea, endeavors to defraud the latter. In which case, this 
Board, being general and impartial, would study the common interest of the Company and 
hold such balance between the Chambers as that the one would not be wronged or oppressed 
by the other. 
„ ... Thus much of the superintendence in this country. 

Superintendence in r J 

this country. rp| ie g 0vernm ent of Brazil being after mature deliberation, recently composed 

of one president and four supreme councillors, a Court of justice and Board of Finance, with 
other additional high and low officers in the Company's employment, although it costs, on 
account of their wages and salaries a considerable sum, yet no fundamental reform can be 
introduced therein until it be seen how far the lost conquests will be recovered, and with what 
number of officers and servants the business there can be carried on. And especially when 
population increases and Brazil becomes inhabited by Netherlanders, many suitable persons 
from the Commonalty should be employed at a small stipend in the Company's service. 
Meanwhile, the supreme government in Brazil ought to be seriously notified to reduce to the 
lowest point the Company's servants and train bands there, in proportion to the low state of 
affairs and the condition of trade, and in all things to study Retrenchment, whereof we shall 
now accordingly treat. 

Second point — Of Retrenchment. 

Retrenchment. This point embraces the entire administration of the Company, both in this 

country and abroad. 

And, first, respecting Retrenchment in this country. It has been heretofore proposed that, 
by reducing the number of the Directors to two-thirds, one-third of their salaries could be 
saved and the allowances to those still employed, or in lieu thereof the existing pay, be so 
modified, according to the present condition of the Company that, they being satisfied with a 
tantum to be fixed by your High Mightinesses until the Company's revenues should sensibly 
increase, something additional might be again allowed them. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: III. 241 

In like manner the employes of the respective Chambers, such as store-keepers, ship- 
carpenters, cashiers, bookkeepers, clerks, doorkeepers, laborers, and more of the same 
description, who draw yearly wages from the Company, can, also, be considerably decreased, 
according as the business aud administration of each Chamber may be thought to require. In 
all cases, in order to prevent excess, a certain reasonable sum should be allowed for each ninth 
part, not to be exceeded in any instance. The attention of the Chambers ought also be 
directed to the expenses of house rent, fire, light, office and similar minutiae, which amount in 
the year to a considerable sum. When better order is introduced, a large amount can also be 
saved in clerkhire, traveling expenses, deputations to the Nineteen ; frequent and unnecessary 
Assemblies of the XIX., especially, could be dispensed with, in case a general and permanent 
Board (whereof mention has been already made) were established, whose expenses would be 
sufficiently and abundantly economized, were it only in the matter of multitudinous deputations 
and fruitless meetings. 

The Company will be principally obliged to get rid of a portion of its ships, which, including 
cannon, stores, aud appurtenances, amount to much more than chartered vessels; and in our 
opinion the Chambers would be sufficiently provided, were each ninth part to maintain two of 
its own ships and a yacht, and to hire the remainder at a fitting season. In this way, also, 
ship yards, rope walks, and other appendages which drain several thousands yearly, could be 
got rid of. When, even on the other hand, the Company requires some first class ships, it will 
not be necessary that it should build them ; it can contract for them on suitable charter at the 
cheapest rate, and have the old ones repaired and fixed in the same way that private merchants 
are in the habit of doing. 

The factors introduced at Amsterdam by the outer Chambers, contrary to the 26 ,h article of 
the Charter, might be also dispensed with, as they draw salaries from those Chambers and 
pay private storage when the Company's stores at Amsterdam are large enough to accommodate 
their goods. Sufficient good understanding ought to exist among the respective Chambers 
and Directors to induce the one to attend to the business of the other, as is customary with 
the East India Company. More precise recommendations on the point of Retrenchment in the 
several Chambers could be submitted, had they condescended to send us, pursuant to the order 
of the XIX. and to our letters, the ordinary and extraordinary expenses each has to bear in its 
own department ; but having never been able to prevail on the Chambers to furnish us with 
a correct account, we hope that each now feeling its own sore, will in future take better care 
to relieve itself from all unnecessary expense. 

In addition to the excessive salaries of some superior officers, which alone amount, according 
to a certain list, to more than ten thousand guilders per month, the Company is mainly 
burthened in Brazil by the great number of military, who on account of the rations they draw, in 
addition to their pay, are twice as expensive as soldiers in this country. There are a number 
of commissaries, assistants and other followers, hired and employed in disbursing the weekly 
rations and pay in divers garrisons, who by their frauds, estimates of leakage, and other sinister 
practices, swindle the Company of a considerable amount. The greater part of this could be 
saved, were the soldiers there paid in money, as we have more fully submitted to the XIX., 
and as would have been put into practice had not it been for the revolt and the cessation 
of the Company's incomes and domains in Brazil. But should the soldiers' wages and board 
be embodied in one sum, this could, in time, be diminished, and the soldiers receiving their 

Vol. I. 31 



242 NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

pay in cash, could go at their pleasure, to market, in the cheapest manner, and have less to 
complain of than now. 

What farther relates to Retrenchment in Brazil and the other conquests, must be particularly 
recommended to and enjoined on the supreme government and the directors of said districts, 
who, being on the spot, can attend better to all such matters which they ought, of themselves, 
to introduce, as by instruction they are obliged to do, and are personally bound to answer 
specially for all that is intrusted to them. 

Third, foint — Of the Tkade. 

Trade. Coming now to the third point of trade and commerce ; the Company ought 

either to carry it on itself or allow private persons to prosecute it, since serious and lengthy 
disputes have arisen on the subject among the Chambers to the sensible deterioration of the 
Company. 'Twere well an end were at once put to these disputes, yet with such 
circumspection that, the trade being regulated for the present according to the actual condition 
of the conquests, might, in case of essential change therein, be hereafter modified according to 
the urgency of affairs. 

If now your High Mightinesses have to learn distinctly from the respective opinions of each 
Chamber, the reasons they will produce in support of their pretension, neveitheless, to express 
our opinions in general terms and without prejudice to any Chamber, it appears to us, under 
correction, that exclusive of the West India islands and continent, which, up to the present 
time, have been always frequented by private traders according to certain regulations from your 
High Mightinesses and the commission of the respective Chambers granted for that purpose ; 
the remaining places within the Charter where the Company maintains government, forts or 
quarters, ought to be considered under two divisions, some being of a nature not to demand 
any cultivation or population, affording simply trade ; others again, where the lands must 
necessarily be first improved by agriculture and population if they are to render any return 
of moment. 

The first division includes all the places situate on the North Coast of Africa, from Cape 
Verde south unto Cape Lopes Gonsalvo, where hides, gum, wax, elephants' teeth, grains of 
paradise and chiefly Guinea gold are obtained in trade ; which wares are brought by Blacks 
from a distance in the interior, without the aid of cultivation, and trucked with a few 
commissaries stationed at posts and in vessels here and there. The Company can prosecute 
this trade as well as, yea, better than individuals (who injure each other by misrepresentations), 
especially were a certain capital or fund of money employed in it; were the cargoes bought 
in good order and sent off in due season, and the greatest economy observed in the fitting out 
of the ships. The XIX. adopted, heretofore, right good resolutions and orders on this subject 
and on that of the trade to the coast of Guinea, but owing either to inability or jealousy of 
the Chambers, they were not observed. That coast is, in consequence, much resorted to by 
foreign nations, so that if other arrangements be not, in a short time, adopted in the premises, 
it runs great risk of being wholly filched, or at least rendered unproductive for the Company. 

There is no other way to prevent this than to appropriate a certain cash capital and fund 
sufficient to carry on the trade, which ought to remain specially applied thereunto in the hands 
of certain commissaries, or separate accounts kept of it, and all the profit of the trade divided 
among the Chambers, and the capital remain always undiminished. By this means the trade 
would be quickly reestablished and again attain vigor. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: III. 243 

Respecting the separate trading posts at Argyn, Senegal, Cape Verde, Rio Gambia and 
Sierra Leone, to which each Chamber now independently resorts with its own stores and ships, 
it has been, heretofore, sufficiently demonstrated to the XIX. that all those places had much 
better been combined and visited annually by a first class ship, in rotation, or otherwise, and 
at joint profit. By this means, a part of the unnecessary outfit can be dispensed with, 
and much jealousy obviated among the Chambers which do not participate in the separate trade. 

The Island of St. Thomas is indeed of a nature to derive more benefit from cultivation and 
raising of produce. Free access and unrestricted trade are considered suitable means to 
that end, although our people will not easily settle there on account of the insalubrity of the 
climate, and because the best and most productive spots are already sufficiently peopled and 
cultivated by Portuguese; so that nothing more remains than to take the sugars and other 
produce of these people and to supply them, in return, with all sorts of goods and necessaries, 
which do not yearly exceed one hundred thousand guilders. We should, therefore, be of 
opinion, that the trade may be properly carried on by the Company, the rather as the four 
ships going in turns from Guinea to St. Thomas could easily make the whole of their equipment 
with the sugar freights ; yet, in order not to constrain the inhabitants of said Island to give 
their sugars exclusively to the Company, and to take goods in return in payment, they could 
be allowed to consign the sugars, cottons, ginger, &c, to private merchants in this country, and 
to order goods from them in exchange upon Brazilian duties and freights ; but that must be 
done exclusively in the Company's vessels for reasons before mentioned. 

Much question obtains just now as to whether the Angola trade ought to be reserved to the 
Company or thrown open to individuals. This is, in our opinion, as yet, premature, and 
cannot be absolutely decided at present, partly because it is not yet known, with certainty, 
what is the condition of things there at this moment, and whether the inland trade through 
the Portuguese is not altogether closed to private persons as well as to the Company. Secondly:, 
because Brazil is not yet recovered and reduced to order; according to the condition of which 
this entire trade must be mainly arranged. 

Brazil being, with God's help, first recovered, and the cultivation of the soil, together with 
the establishment of so many ruined plantations (ingenhos) commenced, a large number of 
slaves would doubtless be immediately required there, especially as the Company, by success 
of arms, may yet reduce some of the Southern Captaincies of Brazil beyond the frontiers ; 
particular attention must then be paid that slaves be obtained at a reasonable price, otherwise 
the Seigniors of the plantations (ingenhos) and freemen might not be able to pay the cost of 
those they may require for farm work. 

Here it must now be taken into consideration, whether the Company itself ought to furnish 
all the slaves in Brazil, either selling them for cash for as much as they may be worth, or giving 
them on credit to the inhabitants at a regular rate, payable in produce and sugar. Experience 
teaches that slaves, in consequence of the scarcity of money in Brazil, do not fetch as much 
cash as the Company expends in goods, outfit and freight inclusive; so that the maintenance 
of the garrisons in Angola is mostly become a charge to the Company, and in consequence of 
giving credit for the slaves, without getting prompt payment in sugars or other returns from 
Brazil, the Chambers have very suddenly ceased and abandoned the sending of new cargoes; 
for not a ship has been sent thither by any of the Chambers now within the space of eighteen 
months. And though new capital were furnished for the purpose, there is no certainty that the 
Company would fare better in future, except yearly cargoes be again provided to be bartered 



244 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

in Guinea for two to three thousand slaves to be sold on their own account. The next means 
would be to open the Angola slave trade to individuals on these or similar conditions, to wit ; 
that they convey cargoes in their own ships to Loando St. Paulo, there to be exchanged for 
slaves either by their own factors or by the Portuguese traders who may resort thither under 
our obedience, and export those slaves with the Director's knowledge, upon certain duty and 
toll in their own ships to Brazil and even elsewhere, to be sold or credited there to the Seigniors 
of plantations. 

And were this means deemed useful not alone to relieve the Company henceforth from this 
disbursement and risk, but also to induce private individuals anew to hazard some more capital 
for the advancement of agriculture, and by the benefiting of one country through means of the 
other, furnish the inhabitants and Traders with greater hope of profit; it is apparent that 
a greater number of slaves will be introduced by individual traders, who will spread themselves 
far and near, than has been as yet done by the Company, which has received only as many as 
the Blackamoors (Mouhierse) and the Portuguese brought them from Massangano, on which no 
certain calculation can be made ; consequently the duties and tolls for the support of the garrisons 
in Angola would produce more than the profit the Company could calculate on from so small 
a number of slaves as hath been traded for some time past. 

The slave trade to Brazil being opened with the approbation of the Chambers, it is to be 

further considered, as slaves during the revolt in Brazil cannot command any especial sale there, 

whether it would not be better to permit their exportation directly from Angola or at least from 

Brazil, to other places on double duty. But besides other difficulties which manifest themselves 

in this point, it must be borne in mind, that in case a way be once opened for slaves, where 

greater profits would be realized than in Brazil, then private traders will mostly take that 

course, and Brazil thus remain deprived of a due supply of slave labor on the abundance of 

which, however, the cultivation and prosperity of our conquest must depend. Also, whenever 

private traders could raise the price of slaves elsewhere, the merchants in Angola would begin 

to compete among each other and run up the price, and thus ruin all at once the trade at Brazil. 

In order to contrive a middle course herein, it is submitted, whether the business could not 

be so regulated that the slave staple be provisionally established at Brazil, so that all private 

traders from Angola must first touch there, without being able to go directly elsewhere ; expose 

the slaves to sale at the Reciff, or barter them with the Seigniors of the Plantations (Iugenios) 

and not be at liberty to export them so long as each slave, one with another, is worth twenty 

milreas or one hundred and fifty guilders cash, or so much more or less as the traders might 

with a reasonable profit be able to obtain ; acting thus, traders would, in the first place, have 

no inducement to enhance the market for slaves in Angola relying upon what they should be 

able to sell them for in Brazil ; secondly, the inhabitants of Brazil would not be imposed on in 

the price, especially if such order were made in Brazil that Jobbers and Jews, who buy up the 

slaves for cash, should not sell them on credit at a higher rate than one per cent a month, 

the slaves being hypothecated to them for the full amount. But whenever Brazil is supplied 

with slaves, or otherwise has no need of them, the remainder might be allowed, with the 

permission of the supreme government there, and on paying a reasonable toll, to be exported 

farther. By this means the slave trade which hath so long lain dormant, to the great damage 

of the Company, might by degrees be again revived ; Angola, independent of the Company's 

supplies, would be somewhat assisted by the trade of individual merchants ; the country be 

cultivated by freemen, who will settle there for the purpose of raising provisions and necessaries, 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: III. 245 

and the tolls and duty on the slaves, can contribute somewhat to lessen the burthen of our 
Military there. Such at least might be allowed provisionally for some time, until the condition 
of affairs, whether in Brazil or elsewhere, otherwise demand. 

Coming now to the conquests of Brazil and New Netherland, it is notorious that all their profit 
and prosperity must proceed exclusively from the cultivation of the soil, and this cannot be 
better promoted than by population. It is, indeed, true that the supply and abundance of slaves, 
by whom the tillage of the soil must be accomplished, obviates the necessity of a great number 
of people who would otherwise be required for Agriculture. Nevertheless, if slaves are to be 
properly treated, they must have their particular owners, each of whom undertakes colonies, 
plantations and farms according to his circumstances and means, and endeavors by slave labor 
to derive therefrom, either for immediate support or for exportation, whatever can be a source 
of profit. 

Population in Brazil can be promoted not only by pointing out for its support lands fit for 
cultivation, but the common people be induced to settle there especially, provided all necessaries 
which do not grow there, and must absolutely be brought from Fatherland, can be procured at 
a cheap rate there. Moreover, those who have any means to establish plantations and colonies 
[Ingcn/tos] must be encouraged as well by the concession of privileges for the Seigniors of the 
colonies [Ingenhos'], exemption from tolls for some time, and other advantages, as, mainly, by 
the hope of profit they will realize by the improvement and barter of their products. Free trade 
will contribute, it is supposed, more to this end than exclusive commerce, especially as the 
former is regulated according to the merchant's greatest supply, and burthened with less charges 
than the Company's circumstances can at any time justify. The order hitherto observed in 
loading the goods of private traders in the Company's ships, hath given them occasion 
frequently to complain ; because several Chambers laying on three ships probably each time, 
which do not sail before they are full, (a thing that sometimes takes a long while) merchants 
cannot make any calculation respecting the arrival of their goods at Brazil ; moreover, the 
Chambers whose turn it is to fit out ships, have frequently rejected goods of the greatest bulk 
and lowest duty, or left them lying a long time in store to the injury of the merchants, and 
sometimes the goods are not accommodated with storage, etc., in the Company's ships to the 
satisfaction of the merchants. But the excessive freights of exported merchandise and 
particularly imported sugars, have so burthened goods, that not only the inhabitants of Brazil 
must pay the highest price for every thing, but the traders of this country, unable to compete 
with other nations, are wholly excluded from the trade. 

These inconveniences ought by all means be remedied either by issuing an order that the 
ships taking turns (tourschepen), must hereafter be put up for a time certain ; for example, 
three to four weeks; and not being full in that time, must complete their loading with the 
Company's goods, and proceed to sea with the earliest fair wind ; no distinction being made 
in receiving and accommodating goods, on condition that the receipt of the recognitions 
be equalized among, and effectively paid to, the other Chambers; that the freights be 
proportionably reduced to what the Company might take them in chartered ships. Otherwise, 
and if no better order be introduced among the alternating ships than has prevailed hitherto, 
private traders ought be allowed to prosecute the trade in their vessels, on a regulated plan, as 
proposed by the principal stockholders of Amsterdam and Zealand ; if, indeed, it is desirable 
that any merchant continue longer to trade to Brazil, when it is notorious, that the Company 
is not in a condition to supply of itself all the Brazilian necessaries for the support of so 
many thousand people in addition to those going to keep plantations (Ingcnhos). 



246 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Should this throwing open the trade to private vessels be distasteful to some Chambers, in 
the supposition that the free course of trade which tends more to one place than to another, 
would prove prejudicial to their Chambers and cities and diminish their freights, it is 
submitted whether, in such case, those Chambers would not be satisfied by allowing them to 
send more vessels to other districts, so that each member may enjoy its proper management, 
and the provinces the benefit of the trade which was allowed them respectively on the 
establishment of the Company. 

Respecting New Netherland : That country is considered to be the most fruitful of all within 
your High Mightinesses' jurisdiction, and the best adapted to raise all sorts of this country 
produce, such as rye, wheat, barley, peas, beans, etc., and cattle; and that in more 
abundance thau can be done here, were it suitably peopled and cultivated. The granting of 
Freedoms and Privileges, hath indeed induced some Patroons and Colonists to undertake 
agriculture there ; but as the produce cannot be sold any where except in the adjacent places 
belonging to the English, who are themselves sufficiently supplied, those planters have not 
received a return for their labor and outlay. With a view, then, to give greater encouragement 
to agriculture, and consequently to population, we should consider it highly advantageous that 
a way be opened to allow them to export their produce even to Brazil, in their own vessels, 
under certain duties, and subject to the supervision both of the Director in New Netherland, 
and the Supreme Council in Brazil ; and to trade it off there, and to carry slaves back in 
return; which privilege of sailing with their own ships from New Netherland to Brazil, should 
be exclusively allowed to Patroons and Colonists, who promote the population in New 
Netherland, and not to the interlopers, who only carry goods to and fro, without attending to 
agriculture. By this means not only would Brazil be supplied with provisions at a cheaper 
rate, but New Netherland would by slave labor, be more extensively cultivated than it has 
hitherto been, because the agricultural laborers, who are conveyed thither at great expense to 
the Colonists, sooner or later apply themselves to trade, and neglect agriculture altogether. 
Slaves, on the other hand, being brought and maintained there at a cheap rate, various other 
descriptions of produce would be raised, and by their abundance be reduced in price, so as to 
allow, when occasion would offer, of their advantageous exportation hither and to other parts 
of Europe. 

Thus having now treated of the three points of reform in the Company, referred to us. by 
your High Mightinesses, to wit, Superintendence, Retrenchment and Trade, we shall add a 
few words on the subject of the Company's finances, or means of support; as without 
amendment herein, the preceding points can never be thoroughly introduced, nor put into 
practice by the respective Chambers; it being notorious, that a great portion of the abuses or 
disorders in the Company, principally in the department of trade, proceeds from the want of 
means and scarcity of cash ; because each Chamber is under greater necessity to extricate itself 
from embarrassment than to pay attention to the general interest. By this means the 
conquests of Guinea, St. Thomas and Angola, were not, sometimes since, properly supplied; 
yea more, they have been rather a burthen than a profit to the Company. 

The decline in the Company's finances is caused, among other things, by the heavy military 
force in Brazil; especially during the war with the Portuguese. For this reason, the 
government of this country promised the Company, at the last augmentation of its capital, and 
on the issue of the Charter, to pay a yearly subsidy of seven tons of gold. But its payment 
not being forthcoming as promptly as the Company's circumstances demanded, the latter was 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: III. 247 

obliged to borrow a considerable sum, the interest whereof it must now daily pay, to its 
serious embarrassment. It has happened, moreover, that since the outbreak in Brazil, all 
the Tenths, Excise, Revenue and other Domains and Receipts, which might be applicable to the 
lessening of this charge, have wholly ceased, and few returns coming over, the current debts 
are also remarkably increased by the respective Chambers, so that it is impossible to continue 
business any longer in that country ; much less to attend to the preservation and trade of the 
foreign possessions, unless the Company be succored by prompt means in cash. 

The stockholders, to all appearance, will not be induced to subscribe any thing additional 
before Brazil be recovered, and, as already stated, placed in its previous condition; because 
it is the principal pledge on which their money has been invested ; and even though restored, 
no assurance can be given them, that the ancient difficulty would not hereafter return, so long 
as the burthen of the military continues to hang around their neck ; therefore, your High 
Mightinesses ought, above all things, vote the extraordinary aid for Brazil, as requested and 
already consented to by some provinces ; and, consequently, after the accomplishment of the 
principal design in Brazil, reduce the military which are required there for the deftnoe 
and maintenance of the garrisons in that quarter, to a smaller number, to be continued and 
supported at the public expense, at least until Brazil again recovers itself, and the excise 
and tenths and similar public revenues, produce sufficient to defray the military expenses. 

Should the inhabitants of Brazil, considered as the subjects of this State, receive in this way 
that protection and benefit from your High Mightinesses which they might enjoy in this 
country, freemen would be encouraged to settle down there quietly under your High 
Mightinesses' guardianship, and Brazil being riveted to this country, might not only afford trade 
and support for many thousand people in time of peace, but serve as a bulwark for the 
security of this State in time of war, and as a point from which the enemy in the vicinity 
of his West Indies could be harrassed and kept always more effectually in check. 

The fifteen tons of gold receivable from the East India Company would serve to stock 
Brazil and Angola with provisions, munitions of war, stores and general supplies, and fit out 
ships and yachts both for the conveyance thereof and the defence of the coasts. 

For the payment of the salaries of the superior officers in Brazil, which amount, as before 
stated, to over ten thousand guilders per month, and of other additional officers in the 
respective Colonies, who might be placed to the account of the General Company, the 
Commissioners recently at the Hague voted and applied on the tenth of December, the revenue 
and duty from privateers and private |merchantmen trading within the limits of the charter; 
with orders that the moneys received be consigned to this Board of Accounts, and that the 
preceding salaries be paid therefrom. But in consequence of divers obstacles on the part of 
some Chambers which would not willingly surrender the aforesaid revenue, wherewith they 
endeavor to defray their particular expenses, the said order has not been yet obeyed, and thus 
the Board of Accounts is unable to satisfy the aforesaid superior officers, who will now transmit 
their bills by the first ships. It would therefore be highly necessary that your High Mightinesses 
issue orders for the prompt execution of the resolutions adopted by the Chambers, so that the 
General Company may experience the benefit thereof, in the lessening of their common burthens. 

As regards the remaining charges, such as the current debts of the respective Chambers, the 
yearly interest of money in deposit, the accounts payable to those returning home from all 
quarters, and other expenses accruing in this country, we see no means applicable thereunto, 
as the Company's effects are very few, or none, and the respective conquests are destroyed, or so 



948 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

reduced in matter of trade that little or no returns are to be expected from them. In addition 

to this, new capital is demanded for the reestablishment of and trading to the North coast of 

Africa, St. Thomas, and adjacent commercial posts, on the supposition that Angola be thrown 

open to private traders, which otherwise would require a heavy capital. Before being 

encouraged by the vigorous aid of the government, it ought to be determined whether the 

stockholders could not be disposed to do something on their part, and to furnish a new 

subscription or capital loan of ten @. twelve per cent, payable periodically or in instalments. 

Of this loan a million ought to be voted and appropriated to the aforesaid trade to Guinea, St. 

Thomas and adjacent places, in order first, to provide these posts with all sorts of cargoes, 

and to exclude therefrom the English and foreign nations, and, further, to defray out of that 

fund the provisioning and establishment of the coast and the outfit of the ships. Whatever 

may remain from the aforesaid new subscription, ought to be applied to the liquidation of the 

most urgent debts and incumbrances, which cannot be "deferred. In case the Company be 

further aided by a subsidy, and somewhat relieved by your High Mightinesses, at least until its 

returns produce sufficient for the payment of the interest of the moneys on deposit, which, as 

above stated, were taken up in consequence of the subsidy in arrear, 'tis confidently to be 

hoped that affairs, both at home and abroad, may, through God's blessing, b<: again established, 

and the respective conquests brought by degrees into a flourishing condition, in order that they 

may be able hereafter, not only materially to reduce the Company's yearly incumbrances, but 

bring forth some fruit to the stockholders, to indemnify them for so much sunk capital. 

Thus done and drawn up by the Commissioners in the Board of Accounts of the General 

Incorporated West India Company at Amsterdam, this iy ,h April, Sixteen hundred and 

forty-seven. 

(Signed) J. Blommaekt 

M. Altingh. 



< . . ■» .-.» 



Resolution of the States General, referring the preceding Papers. 

[ From the Register of West India affairs, 163S — 1651, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Thursday, ix ,h April, 1648. 
Folio 8sw. The additional petition presented, with divers papers annexed, to their High 

Jochum Pieters r l l * 

cuyter and Cornells Mightinesses, in the name and on behalf of Jochum Pieters" Cuyter and Cornelis 
Melyn is, after previous consideration, placed in the hands of the Mess" van der Capelle tho 
Ryssel, and others their High Mightinesses' Deputies for the affairs concerning the Redress of 
the Decline of the West India Company, to inspect, examine and to look into the past 
proceedings thereupon, and to report on the whole with power to their High Mightinesses' 
Deputies who may be present, to proceed to business in the absence of one or the other of the 
committee ; to progress therein and to terminate the same. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: III. 249 

Resolution of the States General permitting Messrs. Cuyter and Melyn to return to 

New Netlierland. 

[ From the Register of West India Affairs, 16SS— 1651, in the Royal Archives at the Hague.] 

Tuesday, 28 th April, 1648. 

jo C him°Peterss, cut- The re P or t of Mess™ van der Capelle tho Ryssel and the other their High 
Seiyn."" 1 0oni Mightinesses' Deputies, who, pursuant to their High Mightinesses' resolutions of 
the 11 January last, and the 9 th instant, inspected and examined the respective petitions 
presented to their High Mightinesses in the name and on the behalf of Jochim Pieters* Cuyter 
and Cornells Melyn, together with the papers thereunto annexed, being heard: It is after 
previous deliberation, resolved and concluded to grant the petitioners, hereby, provisional 
appeal, with the clause suspending the respective sentences pronouced against them on 25th 
Pr stuyvesant. July, of the year 1647, by Peter Stuyvesant, Director of New Netlierland, in the 
Mandamus. West Indies, with the advice of his Council ; and the petitioners are further 

allowed and granted liberty to return to New Netlierland aforesaid, and free and unmolested 
to use and enjoy their property there, the same as other Colonists and inhabitants, pending 
the case in appeal; and letters shall be addressed to the present commander and mutatis 
mutandis, to the government there, that they leave the parties unmolested and in the enjoyment 
of their High Mightinesses' resolution ; with this understanding that this shall not be drawn 
into precedent, to the prejudice of the charter granted to the West India Company of 
this country. 



States General to Director Stuyvesant. 

[From the Register of Citgegane Briev&n of the States General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague.] 

To the Director in New Netherland, 28 th April, 164S, and mutatis mutandis to the 
government in New Netherland. 

The States General, &c. 
Folio 88. Honorable, &c. We have this day heard and considered the report of Mess" our 

Deputies, who, pursuant to our previous resolutions of the xi January last, and of the 9 th instant, 
have investigated and examined the several petitions presented unto us, in the name and on the 
cuyter »nd Meiyn. behalf of Jochum Pieters Cuyter and Cornelis Melyn ; also the papers thereunto 
annexed; and after previous deliberation have, consequently, granted the petitioners provision 
of appeal, with the clause suspending the respective sentences pronounced against them, on the 
24 July, of the year 1647, with the advice of his Council, by Peter Stuyvesant, Director of 
New Netherland, within the limits of the West India Company ; and We have, moreover, 
granted to and allowed the petitioners liberty, pending the case in appeal, to return hence to 
New Netherland aforesaid, and free and unmolested to enjoy and use their property there, the 
same as other Colonists and inhabitants ; of all which We have resolved hereby to advise 

Vot,. T. 32 



250 NEW-VORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

you, and to order and charge you, that you shall allow the aforesaid petitioners to act 
unmolested and peaceahly to enjoy the full effect of these, Our good designs and intentions, 
without failing in any way therein. Done 28 ,b April, 164S. 



Mandamus in Case of the Appeal of Messrs. Cityter and Melyn. 

[From the Actt-hork of the States General, In the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Mandamus in case of appeal with suspensory clause for Jochem Pietersz Cuyter 
and Cornelis Melyn, inhabitants of New Netherland. 

Fotio 274. The States General of the United Netherlands to the first marshal or messenger 

hereunto requested, who is qualified to act, Health. Know Ye, that We have received the 
humble petition presented unto Us, by and on behalf of Jochim Pietersz Cuyter and Cornelis 
Melyn, setting forth that they, the petitioners, had, by permission and leave of the Assembly 
of the Nineteen, of the General West India Company, transported themselves in the year One 
thousand six hundred and thirty-nine, with wives and children, and the means of private 
citizens, besides a large stock of cattle from this country into New Netherland, so that they, 
the petitioners, had in the year 1643, after a heavy outlay, much trouble and indescribable 
labor, brought into good order their lands, houses and other improvements, which they were 
obliged to abandon in the year aforesaid, in consequence of the war that Director Kieft 
illegally and contrary to all public Law, had commenced against the Indians or inhabitants of 
New Netherland, and have accordingly lost all their property; wherefore the petitioners, 
together with the other six chosen men resolved, in the name of the unanimous Commonalty 
in New Netherland, and sent over by the Blue Cock in the year 1644, their complaints on this 
point in two letters to the Assembly of the Nineteen, and to the Directors in Amsterdam. The 
mischiefs which followed this deed of murder, massacre and other additional abominations, 
that Director Kieft, of his own motion, permitted at the time to be perpetrated on the innocent 
and guiltless Indians, which must startle the Christian heart that hears of them, may be fully 
seen in the original letter to the Nineteen. 1 The Eight chosen men were not aware that they 
had, in thus acting, committed any offence, but hoped that the most favorable construction 
would be placed on it by the Directors, who, however, the petitioners find did, on the contrary, 
take the letter in the worst part, and accordingly sent it by the new Director Stuyvesant, back 
to New Netherland to Director Kieft. The consequence of this was, that the aforesaid Kieft 
determined to proceed very severely against the Eight chosen men, especially against both the 
Petitioners, and had them prosecuted by the Fiscal, so that Director Stuyvesant, to gratify 
the aforesaid Kieft, hath banished the petitioners for some years from the country as they 
would not contradict the truth, and persisted in their previous writings. The Petitioners then 
turned unto Us, requesting, imploring, praying, for God's sake, that We would please to protect 
them in their rights, that they may be able to return to their poor, desolate wives and 
children, - and be established in their previous condition on their lands, and in case the 

'Supra, p. 190. — Ep. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: III. 251 

Petitioners have given offence by any improper papers, tending to injure New Netherland or 
the puhlic weal (which they in no way desired), they submit themselves here to such 
punishment as We shall find appropriate; but it will appear, on the contrary, that the 
Petitioners had no other aim in their writings than the promotion of the public good and 
the wished for peace in New Netherland, and the removal of the inhuman cruelties, tyranny and 
misgovernment which the servants of the West India Company, and especially Director Kieft, 
inflicted from time to time on the Natives of New Netherland; the consequence whereof is, 
that by these barbarous proceedings, the country is wholly prostrate, the settlers hunted, their 
lands laid waste, the bouweries and plantations, to the number of 50 or 60 burnt and laid in 
ashes, and what is worst of all, the Dutch name is through those cruel acts, despised to a most 
sovereign degree, by the Heathens of those parts: And whenever the poor inhabitants 
complained to the supreme government of these harsh doings, they were so persecuted by the 
Directors there, that the Dutch, in course of time, abandoned the country, and little more than 
one hundred men, besides private traders, are found there at this day. It is therefore much to 
be apprehended, that the English will endeavor in time, to become masters of it, for they, of 
late years, have come near unto the Dutch, and within fifteen years have increased in New 
England to fifty or sixty thousand souls, who have now already got a smack of the productiveness 
and of the convenient navigable rivers of Our New Netherland. The Petitioners, then, earnestly 
imploring that this, their humble petition, may by Us be taken into consideration, and they be 
granted their reasonable and fair request, which, also, the Assembly of the Nineteen itself 
promisedin their charter of 1630, to all Patroons and free inhabitants: seeing which, W T e, 
therefore, request and command you, who are hereby deputed hereunto, to summon, in Our 
name, at the request of the aforesaid Petitioners, the above named Director Stuyvesant, and 
those of the government in New Netherland aforesaid, with all others required, to come 
and appear, or send attorneys, on a suitable day, to sustain and defend the aforesaid sentences 
and the tenor thereof before Us, here at the Hague, or to renounce the same if they think proper; 
to see and hear the same adjudged null, void, and of no effect, and accordingly, legally to amend 
and correct them according to law, if such be right, on such application as the Petitioners, on 
the day appointed, shall present, in order, parties being heard, the Petitioners may by Us, be 
provided with such remedy of justice, and also of grace if necessary, as shall be found pertinent 
and applicable to the case. Moreover, right stricly forbidding and commanding in Our behalf, 
on certain heavy penalties, the aforesaid defendants, and all others whom it may concern, that 
pending the matter in appeal, they neither do attempt, nor innovate any thing against the 
aforesaid Appellants, but, on the contrary, if any thing be done, attempted or innovated, that 
they immediately and without hesitation repair it, and place it in its first and proper position. 
Leaving copy hereof and of your summons for the behoof of the Defendants, and reporting to 
Us, on the day aforesaid, what you shall have done herein. Given in the Hague, on the 
twenty-eighth day of April, XV1 C and forty-eight. 



252 NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Resolution of the States General approving the preceding Mandamus. 

[ Prom the Register of West India Affairs, 1638—1651, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Thursday, 30 ,h April, 1648. 

cuyte^aid Meiyn. The draft of the Mandamus in the case of appeal prepared by order of their 
High Mightinesses in behalf of Jochum Pieters" Cuyter and Cornelis Melyn being read to the 
Assembly, it is, after previous deliberation, held as enacted, and it is further ordered to be 
dispatched and issued. 



Resolution of the States General to grant Safeguard to Messrs. Cuyter and Melyn. 

[From the Register of "West India Affairs, 1633 — 1651, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Wednesday, 6 lh May, 1648. 
Folio 4os. a certain other petition presented to their High Mightinesses in the name and 

cuyter and comeiis n the behalf of Jochem Pieters' Cuyter and Cornelis Melyn, their High 

Melyn J J * ° 

stuyvisant Mightinesses' subjects and inhabitants in New Netherland, is read to the Assembly, 

Mandamus. setting forth, that their High Mightinesses were pleased on the 2S th April last, to 

grant them, the petitioners, a Mandamus in case of appeal, with the clause suspending the 

sentence which Peter Stuyvesant, Director of New Netherland under the West India Company, 

with the advice of his Council, pronounced against them on the 25" 1 July, 1647, and that their 

High Mightinesses, in addition, have granted them, the petitioners, liberty, pending the case in 

appeal, to return hence to New Netherland aforesaid, and use and enjoy their property there 

free and unmolested, the same as other colonists and inhabitants. They, the Petitioners, 

praying their High Mightinesses to be pleased to extend their favor further, so far as to advise 

the Assembly of the XIX. thereof, or in its absence, the presiding Chamber of the West India 

Company; and further, to grant them, the petitioners, Acte ad omnes Populos, and particularly 

to those directly or indirectly under the jurisdiction of this State, so that they, the Petitioners 

may, with the one and the other, enjoy the effect of their High Mightinesses' kindness and 

favorable resolution. Whereupon deliberation being had, it is resolved and concluded, that 

agreeably to the Petitioners' request the aforesaid concession shall be notified to the aforesaid 

Assembly of the Nineteen, or in their absence to the presiding Chamber of the said 

Company; and to them, the Petitioners, shall be forthwith issued, Acte ad omnes Populos, and 

particularly to all those who, directly or indirectly, are under the jurisdiction of this State; 

so that the aforementioned Petitioners, both one and the other, may enjoy the effect of their 

High Mightinesses' resolution and concession aforesaid. And the aforesaid Mandamus shall be 

enlarged, as it is hereby enlarged thus far, to wit: that the said Mandamus shall be served not 

only by a messenger, marshal or notary, but by such other person, whether public or private, 

as they, the Petitioners, jointly or severally may accept and empower. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: III. 253 

Passport to Messrs. Guyter and Melyn to return to New Netherland. 

[ From the Acte-boek of the Stales General, in the Royal Archires at the Hague. ] 

Act ad omnes Populos for Jochem Pietersz Cuyter and Cornells Melyn, inhabitants 
of New Netherland. 

Foho 277. The States General of the United Netherlands. To all those who shall see or 

hear these read, Health : Be it Known, Whereas, We, on the 28 lh April last, did grant unto 
Joachim Pietersz Cuyter and Cornells Melyn provision of appeal with the clause of inhibition 
(according to the Letters thereof issued) from the respective sentences which Peter Stuyvesant, 
Director of New Netherland, in the West Indies, with the advice of his Council, pronounced 
against them on the 25 ,b July, of the year 1647 ; and have, moreover, accorded and granted 
liberty to the Petitioners, pending the case in appeal, to return to New Netherland aforesaid, 
and there enjoy and make use of their property free and unmolested, the same as other 
Colonists and inhabitants ; We, therefore, request all Kings, Princes, Potentates, Republics, 
Parliaments, States and Deputies, being with Us and these United Netherlands in friendship, 
alliance and neutrality; also, their admirals, lieutenants and vice admirals, captains and 
commanders to allow said Joachim Pietersz Cuyter and Cornells Melyn to prosecute their 
voyage to New Netherland aforesaid, they being inhabitants and subjects of this State, and We 
shall on that account be and remain at all times, disposed, such to reciprocate towards the 
illustrious Kings, Princes, Potentates, the high and honored Republics, Parliaments, States and 
Deputies and to acknowledge towards the aforesaid their admirals, lieutenants and vice-admirals, 
and captains, and likewise towards their inhabitants and subjects on all occurring occasions. 
We further charge and command all admirals, lieutenants and vice-admirals, captains, 
lieutenants, commanders and common soldiers and sailors, being directly in Our service, and 
in that of the General Incorporated West India Company of this country to afford and lend to 
the afore-named Joachim Pietersz. Cuyter and Cornells Melyn in the prosecution of their 
aforesaid voyage to New Netherland, all help, assistance and address, and to this end to convey 
and transport them as passengers, and at their own cost, in the respective ships under their 
command, if by them thereunto requested; also, to land them whereseover the aforesaid ships 
shall have designed to go and their voyage lies, on pain, of acting contrariwise, of incurring 
Our highest indignation, for such We have found expedient. Given at the Hague in Our 
Assembly, under Our Seal, paraph and the Signature of our Greffier, on the vi. May, 1648. 



Resolution of the States General on the Treaties, &c, entered into by the West 

India Company. 

[ From the Register of West India affairs, 1638 —1651, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Thursday, 27 th August, 1648. 
Foiio«24 In fulfillment of their High Mightinesses' resolution of the 14 th instant, and the 

letters of the Amsterdam Chamber of the West India Company consequent thereupon, 



254 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

copies of authentic Director de Laet delivered unto the Assembly authentic copies of such treaties, 

treaties, contracts, 

ettc with Kings, contracts and capitulations as the said West India Company hath made and 

Princes and Poten- * ■ » 

tates - concluded with the Kings, Princes and Potentates within the limits of their 

Charter. Whereupon deliberation being had, it is resolved and concluded that the aforesaid 
authentic copies be locked up and preserved. 



Resolution of the States General on the Petition of the Guardians of Johannes 

van Rensselaer. 

I From the Register of West India affairs, 1685—1651, in the Eoyal Archives at the Hague.] 

Wednesday, 21" October, 1648. 
Folio 431. T ne petition of the guardians of Johan van Renselaer, minor son of Kiliaen 

Tan a Kenseiaer Joban van Renselaer, being read to the Assembly. It is, after previous deliberation, 
resolved and concluded that it be placed, with the papers annexed, in the hands of the Mr. van 
Renswoude, to inspect, examine and report thereupon; and this resolution shall be made public 
without reconsideration. 



Resolution of the States General on the Report in the case of Johannes van Rensselaer. 

[ From the Register of West India affairs, 163S— 1651, in the Royal Archives at the Hague.] 

Thursday, 22 October, 1648. 
Folio 48i. Having heard the report of Mr. van Reinswoude who, in virtue of their High 

Mightinesses' order yesterday, inspected and examined the petition, with the papers thereunto 
annexed, presented on the same day to their High Mightinesses, in the name and on behalf of 
va°nRenseiaer!° 1 ""' tne guardians of Johan van Renselaer, minor son of deceased Kiliaen van 
Eenseiaers Wyck. Renselaer, for Letters of Investiture of High, Middle and Low Jurisdiction over 
the Colonie situate in New Netherland and called Renselaers Wyck. It is, after previous 
deliberation, resolved and concluded to hereby thank the said Mr. van Reinswoude for and on 
account of the trouble taken by him in the aforesaid; but before proceeding finally in the 
matter, it is resolved and determined that copy of the aforesaid petition, as well as of 
the papers thereunto annexed, be transmitted to the Assembly of the XIX. of the West 
India Company, at present convened in Amsterdam, in order to understand from it, without 
delay, whether it have any valid objections against the aforesaid investiture, and to 
communicate the same to them in the speediest manner. And the petitioners are, meanwhile, 
esteemed diligent. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: III. 255 

Amsterdam Chamber of the West India Company to the S'ates General. 

[ From the Original, in Ihe koy.il Archives at the Hague ; File, Went Indie.] 

To the High and Mighty Lords States General of the United Netherlands. 

High and Mighty Lords. 

The Directors of the Incorporated West India Company at the Amsterdam Chamber having 
received your High Mightinesses' letter of the 30 th Octoher last with the copy of the petition 
presented on the same day to your High Mightinesses, by or on behalf of Jacob Tafyn, they 
state for information thereupon, that they have received advices by letter from Director Petrus 
Stuvesant, written in Fort Amsterdam in New Netherland, on the 5 th of August last, that a 
Spanish bark, burthen about 70 to 80 lasts, had been sent in there, laden with hides, and 
captured by the yacht the Cat conveying some horses from the Island of Curasao to the 
Caribbean Islands, a portion of which aforesaid hides the said Director had sold there, and 
would send the remainder, amounting to about 2000, to this country, as was subsequently 
done. And as the aforesaid prize, according to the law of Nations and the treaty of peace 
concluded between this State and the King of Spain, is without any gainsay, well and duly 
sent in ; without the Company being able, or bound, to know whose property any of the 
freighted goods were which, however, by means of that prohibited ship also were rendered 
contraband. The above named Directors, pursuant to the Company's order, therefore 
considered themselves to be warranted to take the benefit of, and to sell the aforesaid goods 
sent over to this country. Then having remarked by the aforesaid letter that your High 
Mightinesses had provisionally staid the aforesaid sale, we have deemed it expedient, in addition 
to the present information and in consideration thereof, humbly to solicit your High 
Mightinesses, that we be at liberty to proceed, on the day appointed by the notices and of 
which the merchants are now advised, with the aforesaid sale, and to benefit the most 
advantageously by the goods; the rather, inasmuch as the said Tafyn or any one else who 
might pretend a claim thereupon, which however cannot be, can and shall retain as much 
right to the moneys proceeding from the aforesaid sale, as he hath had to the aforesaid property. 
"Which doing, etc. 

Presented in the name of the Directors of the West India Company at Amsterdam, 

the 6 ,b November, 1648. 

( Signed ) Gvsbert Rudolphy. 



-• .. -*- .- «- 



Resolution of the States General on the petition of Mr. Blommaert and others. 

[ From the Register of West India affairs, 1633— 1651, in the Royal Archives at the Hagu«.] 

Friday, 20 ,h November, 1648. 
roiio 434. -phe petition of Samuel Blommaert, Johannes de Laet, Margriete Reinst, 

Samuel Blommart i • i j • r 

cum sociu. widow of Adam Bessels and Toussaint Muyssart, on and against the guardians ot 

Netheriand. the minor son of Kiliaen van Renselaer, relative to certain Colonie of New 

Netherland [being read]; copy thereof is, after previous deliberation, placed in the hands of 
said guardians, for the purpose of commenting thereupon in writing. 



256 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Resolutions of the States General in the matter of Johannes van Rensselaer, et al. 

[From the Register of West India affairs, 1633—1651, in the Royal Archives at the Hague.] 

Monday, 26 ,h April, 1649. 
Folio «7. Read to the Assembly the petition presented to their High Mightinesses in the 

T } a"iTReuseiaer , . ohan name, and on the behalf of the guardians of Johan van Renselaer, the son of 
stuivetant. Kiliaen van Renselaer, complaining of Petrus Stuivesant, the West India 

Company's Director in Fort Amsterdam, situate at the Manathes in New Netherland. 
Whereupon, deliberation being had, it is, previous to proceeding further herein, resolved and 
concluded, that the aforesaid petition shall be sent to the presiding Chamber of the aforesaid 
Company resident at Amsterdam for information. 

Resolution of the States General. 

Monday, 26 April, 1649. 
Folio 457. The answer of Johan van Weely and Wouter van Twiller, guardians of Johan 

Johan van Weely J ° 

T n wyiie^° uter Tan van Renselaer, son of Kiliaen van Renselaer, to the petition heretofore presented 
!n™partnera mmaert to their High Mightinesses by Samuel Bloemert and partners, Is, after previous 
deliberation, handed to parties to reply thereunto, within the time of fourteen days after 
service hereof. 

Resolution of the States General. 

Tuesday, 1 June, 1649. 
Folio 46i. . The reply of Samuel Blommaert and associates, partners in the Colonie of 
par""™"" """* New Netherland, to and against Jan van Wely and Wouter van Twiller, 
as guardians of Johan van Renselaer, Is, after previous consideration, handed to Mess" 
Huygens, Vett and van der Hoolck, to inspect and examine the same, and report thereon ; and 
with this exception, parties shall be at liberty meanwhile to rejoin. 

Resolution of the States General. 

Friday, 4 June, 1649. 

Foiio 462. On consideration, it is hereby resolved and decided, to enlarge their High 
Mightinesses' order of the 31" May last, placed in the margin of the answer presented on the 
8amueij3iommert sam e day to their High Mightinesses by Samuel Blommert and Jan de Laet 
jandeLaet qualitote qud to the effect that Mess" Huygens, Vett and van der Hoolck, their 

High Mightinesses' preceding Deputies, shall be empowered to summon both parties before 
them, on a certain day to be prefixed by them for that purpose, in order to accommodate, if 
possible, the differences mutually existing between them ; and if not, to render a report to 
their High Mightinesses of their proceedings. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: IV 257 

Resolution of the States General. 

Saturday, 3 d July 1649. 
Fniio 4i,5. Q n consideration, it is resolved and decided that Johan van Wely and Wouter 

Wely and Twiler. m-i )• r T r> I i •<- i • , ■ , 

Etn».iaer. van 1 wiler, guardians ot Jan van Renselaer, be notified to repair hither on next 

Thursday, the S lh instant, for the purpose set forth in their High Mightinesses' Resolution of 
the 4 th June ; and the letter to be written, shall be dispatched without reconsideration. 

Resolution of the States General. 

Thursday, 30 September 1G49. 
Folio 483. . Read in the Assembly a certain memorial of Samuel Blommaert and Johannes 
Laet' ,J de Laet cum sociis, respecting the difference which has arisen between them and 

Guar.iians and heirs the guardians and heirs of Kiliaen van Renselaer concerning the Colonie of 

of Kiliaen van ° ° 

Eenseiaer. Renselaer's- Wyck. in New Netherland, setting forth in effect, that they having 

appeared some months ago before their High Mightinesses' Commissioners, the order was 
made: that parties on both sides should exchange their papers within the space of fourteen 
days, and then deliver said papers with the Advertisements into the hands of said 
Commissioners, in order to make further disposition therein, as may be expedient; but so it is, 
that they, the Petitioners have long since placed their papers in the hands of their adversaries, 
and that fourteen days more than a month have elapsed, without their opponents having 
handed in any thing: Wherefore they, the petitioners, most humbly request their High 
Mightinesses to be pleased to direct that their opponents be required to obey the aforesaid 
Order within a brief space of time and that in default thereof, their High Mightinesses' 
Commissioners be authorized, by deprivation of the right of defence or otherwise, to put an 
end to the case in such manner as the aforesaid Commissioners shall determine, more especially 
as the matter cannot suffer any further delay, without prejudice to the plaintiffs. Whereupon 
deliberation being had, it is resolved and concluded that the guardians and heirs of Kiliaen 
van Renselaer shall be held, as they are hereby expressly ordered again within the space of 
eight days after the service hereof, to fulfill and obey their High Mightinesses' preceding order, 
on pain of deprivation of their right. 



Resolution of the States General on a letter received from Director StvyvesanV 

[From the Register of West India Affairs, 1G3S — 1651, in the Royal Archives at the Hague ] 

Saturday 9 ,h October, 1G49. 
polio 492. Received a duplicate of a despatch from Peter Stuyvesant, Director in New 

stuyvesant. Netherland, without date or place, containing an answer to their High 

Mightinesses' letter of the 2S ,h April last, transmitted to him Stuyvesant, in the matter of 

' This letter, dated 10th of August, 1649, is omitted here, being a duplicate; the origira' will be found, post, immediately 
preceding "Resolution of the Stales General" of the 26th November, 1649. — Ed. 

Vol. I 33 



258 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

corned Meiyn. Cornelia Melyn condemned and relieved. Whereupon deliberation being had, it 
is resolved and decided before proceeding any farther herein, that the past transactions shall be 
looked up and read to the Assembly, in order to proceed afterwards as may appertain. 



The Nine Men of New Netherland to the States General. 

[ From Ihe Original In'the Koyal Archives at Iho Hague ; Loketkat of the States General; Rubric West Jndische Compagnie, No. 30. Division 2.] 

Great, Powerful, High and Mighty Sovereigns. 

After our distressed circumstances had forced and obliged us to represent the poor condition 
of this country and to pray for redress therein, we considered it proper to delegate also 
some persons whom we know and acknowledge to be honorable, honest and trustworthy ; 
likewise well experienced in, and acquainted with, the circumstances of this country, in order 
that they may furnish your High Mightinesses, if such be your will and pleasure, with further 
information and explanation on every subject & circumstance, and also to importune your 
High Mightinesses to grant seasonable relief and aid. We, therefore, hereby humbly entreat 
and request your High Mightinesses to be pleased to give credence in all things that they may 
do or say in the premises, to these persons, to wit, Adriaen Van der Donck, Jacob van 
Couwenhoven, and Jan Evertse Bout, our Delegates and Agents; inasmuch as we know 
them for persons of honor and of good name and fame, also right well disposed towards the 
interest of this Country. With humble reverence we pray your High Mightinesses to be 
pleased to grant them a favorable audience, and we are and remain your High Mightinesses' 
faithful subjects. 

We have, in addition, presumed to send your High Mightinesses a specimen of this country's 
products, crops and forage most humbly praying that, according to our straitened circumstances, 
it may be graciously accepted, which we pray God also to grant, to whose keeping we ever 
commend your High Mightinesses' persons, deliberations and undertakings. Amen. 

In the name, and on the behalf, of the Commonalty of New Netherland, Done the 
26 lh July 1649 in New Amsterdam, on the Island Manhattans in New Netherland. 

(Signed) Augustin Herman. 

Arnoldus van Hardenberch. 
Oloff Stevenss. 
Machvel Janssen. 
Thomas Hall. 
Elbert Elbertsen. 
Govert Loockermans. 
Received 13 October, 1649. Hendrick Heimdrickse Kip. 

(Addressed as follows:) 

To the Great, Powerful, High & Mighty Lords 
The Lords States General of 
The United Netherlands residing at the Hague. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS : IV. 959 

Petition of the Delegates from JVew Netlierland to the States General. 

I From the Original in Hie Boyal Archives at the Hague; LokMat of the States General ; Rubric Weal Indlscht Compagnie, No. 80; 8d division 

of the Bundle. ] 

[L. S.] 

To the High and Mighty Lords the States General of the United Netherlands. 

The Delegates of the Commonalty in New Netlierland most respectfully represent that 
they, the Petitioners, being obliged, agreeably to the annexed request, to lay before your High 
Mightinesses the Sober Condition and poor circumstances of New Netlierland aforesaid, which 
is clearly set before, and demonstrated to your High Mightinesses in said petition and more 
minute Remonstrance, the Petitioners presuming that your High Mightinesses cannot well 
have leisure as a body, being occupied by other public business, to examine the same, are 
therefore under the necessity of addressing themselves to your High Mightinesses, respectfully 
praying your High Mightinesses to be pleased to appoint some Members of your Assembly to 
examine the said Petition and Remonstance, to hear the Petitioners verbally, and report being 
rendered according to their finding, that your High Mightinesses may dispose thereof as to the 
circumstances of the case according to your wise discretion, may appertain. Which doing etc. 



Petition of the Commonalty of Neio Netlierland to the States General. 

[ From the Original ( on a sheet of paper somewhat thick and large ) in the Royal Archives at th« Hague ; Locketkm of the States General ; 

Rubric West Iiulische Compagnie ; 3d division of the Bundle. ] 

To the Illustrious High and Mighty Lords, The Lords States General of the United 
Netherlands, our Most Excellent Sovereigns. 

Gracious Lords, etc. 

Whereas in process of time this Province of New Netlierland has attained a very poor and 
most low condition, the cause whereof we presume to be First, Unsuitable government; 2° 
Scanty privileges and exemptions; 3° Onerous imposts of duties, exactions and such like; 4° 
Long Continued War ; 5° The loss of the Princess ; 6° A superabundance of Petty Traders 
and pedlars (Schotten en Chinezen) and a want of Farmers and Farm servants : 7° Great dearth 
in general; S° and lastly, the insufferable arrogance of the Natives or Indians, arising from 
our smaller numbers, etc. 

And having waited long in vain, for aid, redress and assistance from the Directors even in our 
greatest need, though we petitioned and begged for it; We, therefore, unable to delay any 
longer, being reduced to the lowest ebb, have determined to fly for refuge to your High 
Mightinesses, our gracious Sovereigns and the Fathers of this Province, most humbly craving 
and beseeching you to look with eyes of compassion on this your Province, and that your High 
Mightinesses would be pleased to order and redress matters so that dangers may be removed, 
troubles put at end to, and population and prosperity promoted, as your High Mightinesses in 
your illustrious wisdom shall consider best, only we have with humble reverence deemed it 



9(30 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

proper and necessary, respectfully to petition your High Mightinesses for these following points 
as advantageous for this Province: 

First. We supplicate and beseech your High Mightinesses to supply New Netherland with 
sufficient population to enable it to support, sustain and defend itself against Indians and others 
who may disturb and invade it; for if this should fail, not only will the direst ruin follow, but 
it will easily become a prey to our Neighbors ; and those who already dwell in it will be 
forced to use all possible means to return and save themselves from misery, or to submit to 
foreign Nations. All which will be remedied, in our humble opinion: I. Whenever your High 
Mightinesses will be pleased to take this Province under your gracious safeguard, and allow 
your Fatherly protection for this Country and its granted privileges to be made public and 
manifest throughout the United Netherlands. Then would many be attracted towards this 
country, from which, on the contrary, every one is discouraged by the Company's harsh 
proceedings and want of means. II. Consequently were your High Mightinesses pleased for 
a few years to send some vessels hither in order that people, principally Farmers and Farm 
Servants, may with their poverty be removed and conveyed gratuitously hither, together with 
some necessary support until the poor people have something in esse, your High Mightinesses 
would not only relieve many embarrassed persons, but also may expect, through their 
intercession with God, success, a blessing and prosperity. III. Also were your High 
Mightinesses to please order that all vessels proceeding and trading to those Northern parts of 
America, should touch first at the Manhattans in New Netherland, and bring with them as 
many persons as seasonably present themselves, and they can conveniently carry at suitable 
fixed rates, many friends (liefhcbbcrs) would, no doubt, emigrate within a short time to 
New Netherland. 

Secondly. We humbly solicit permanent Privileges and Exemptions which promote population 
and prosperity and which, in our opinion consist: I. Of suitable municipal (borgerlycke) 
government, such as your High Mightinesses shall consider adapted to this Province, and 
somewhat resembling the laudable Government of our Fatherland. II. Exemption from 
imposts, tenths and burthens, which, at the first beginning, are disadvantageous and oppressive, 
until the country becomes populous and somewhat permanently established. III. That the 
returns in Tobacco shipped hence, be exempt from all duties. This would not only afford 
great encouragement to the planters who convert the forest into farms, but be better also for 
their servants who could thus be supplied with all sorts of necessaries. IV. Also, permission 
to export, sell, and barter grain, timber and all other wares and merchandise the produce of 
the Country, every way and every where your High Mightinesses have allies and have granted 
to the Netherlanders the privilege of trade and resort. V. That your High Mightinesses should 
please to grant Privileges and Freedoms to the Inhabitants for the encouragement of the 
Fisheries which many suppose were good and profitable heretofore, and would hereafter be of 
great importance. 

Thirdly. We humbly beseech your High Mightinesses to be pleased to determine and so to 
establish the Boundaries of this Country, both north and south, that all causes of difference, 
discord and trouble may be cutoff and prevented: that your High Mightinesses' subjects may 
live and dwell in peace and quietness and enjoy their liberty in trade and commerce within 
the established boundaries. II. Also, that your High Mightinesses be pleased to preserve us 
in peace with the neighboring Republics, Colonies, and other your High Mightinesses' allies, 
so that we may pursue our country's trade, without let or hindrance, under proper regulations 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: IV. 261 

from your High Mightinesses, as well along the coast from Terra Nova to Cape Florida, as to 
the West Indies and to Europe, wherever the Lord our Cod shall be pleased to permit; and, 
HI. In order to make manifest your High Mightinesses' earnest support of this Province to 
those who may be incredulous on that /point, we respectfully entreat your High Mightinesses 
to be pleased to quarter a company or two of Soldiers here for the defence of those dwelling 
outside and in newly added plantations and colonies, until by our increase we shall dread 
neither Indians nor other enemies, but even be able to prevent their mischievous acts. 

All this have we concluded, with humble reverence, to propose according to our limited 
knowledge and understanding, earnestly supplicating your High Mightinesses, for the love of 
New Netherland, which now lies at its extremity, as is to be seen at length in our annexed 
Remonstrance, to be pleased to direct your attention thereto according to your wise and 
provident counsel, and to interpret most favorably this our presumption. 

We pray and hope that the name of New Netherland and the conversion of the Heathen, 
which ought to be hastened, will move your High Mightinesses hereunto. Awaiting, therefore, 
a happy deliverance, we commend your High Mightinesses' persons and deliberations to the 
protection of the Almighty, and remain your High Hightinesses' humble and obedient servants. 

Written in the name, and on the behalf, of the Commonalty of New Netherland, 
the six and twentieth of July, in the year of our Lord Jesus Christ, One thousand 
six hundred and nine and forty, in New Amsterdam, on the Island Manhattans, in 
New Netherland. 

(Signed) Adriaen van der Donck. 

Augustin Herman. 

Arnoldus Van Hardenberch. 

Jacob van Conwenhoven. 

Oloff Stevenss. 

Machyel Janssen. 

Thomas Hall. 

Elbert Elbertsen. 

Covert Loockermans. 

Hendrick Hendricksen Kip. 

Jan Evertsen Bout. 
(Endorsed ) 

Petition for the Committee of the Commonalty 
of New Netherland. 13 October, 1049. 



262 NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Additional Observations on the preceding Petition. 

[ From a MS. In the Royal Archives at the Hague ; Loketkas o( the States General ; Rubric West Indiwhe CompagnU, No. 80 ; 6th division 

of the Bundle. ] 

1. Population. 

2. Privileges. Further Explanation of, and Observations on the Petition to the Illustrious, 

3. Exemption R . . d Mj , Lordg gtates General of lhe United Netherlands, Our 

from Duties. ° ° J 

4. Protection. Most Serene Sovereigns. 

Gracious Lords. 

Whereas, in process of time, this Province 1 of New Netherland has attained to a very poor 
and low condition, 2 the cause whereof we presume 3 to be, 
I. Unsuitable Government ; 4 
IF. Scanty Privileges and Exemptions; 5 

III. Onerous imposts of duties, 6 exactions and such like; 7 

IV. Long continued war ; 8 

V. The loss of the Princess; 9 

1 It is called a Province because it was invested, by their High Mightinesses, with the Arms of an Earl. 
8 It will be seen, generally, in the Remonstrance, that New Netherland has arrived at the lowest ehb, so 
that if provision be not seasonably made in the premises, it will be wholly abandoned. 

3 Not that there is any doubt of it ; for it is as clear and notorious as that the Sun emits light. See 
Remonstrance passim. 

4 That is bad and intolerable ; yea, wholly ruinous to the country as administered here by the Directors, 
and in New Netherland by their Servants. 

6 The Company hath never adhered strictly to any privileges in New Netherland, but always altered those 
granted to suit its own convenience (ad proprium commodnm). This hath caused decrease of population. 

6 Before we can get our goods home we must pay 16. 4 J- and 8, making 28£ per cent, besides the loss in the 
shifting in and out of the stores. For, besides the trouble and expense, the Company's servants, who inspect 
quasi correctly the goods, pay not the least regard, but rather throw them down than lift them up. For, in 
Amsterdam, they must first be placed in store and inspected before going on board ; then a poor cargo must 
be taken along, and in New Netherland soldiers are immediately placed on board, and a man is no longer 
master of his own vessel ; afterwards, the cargo is discharged into the Company's AVarehouse, and there it 
proceeds so as to be a grief and vexation to behold ; for it is all measured anew, unpacked, thrown about, and 
counted without either rule or order ; besides the Company's servants between whiles bite sharp and 
carry away. 

7 Exactions, for they are not at all agreed upon ; remark, the Directors fixed all, as they took the fancy, 
prcctextu Societatis, sed reversd ad proprium commodum, without the knowledge of the Patroons or the 
Commonaltv. But it is, Sic volo, sic juheo, slat pro ratione voluntas. It is very true, that they did not fully 
attain, in this case, their object and aim, but blood was very near being shed before it could be prevented, and 
then it was: — I'll remember and revenge it. 

8 As most of the people have lost thereby all they had and expected to get. This war was, also, unjust and 
beo-un contra jus gentium. Why ? The Americans gave us no pretext for it. Secondly, It was for no 
reason nor in any real respect necessary. Thirdly, Those against whom we waged war were ten times, yea, 
more than that, stronger than we who commenced hostilities. 

9 For in her were lost very exact Maps; fully a hundred different samples of Minerals and numerous 
Remonstrances and accounts of New Netherland. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: IV. 263 

VI. Superabundance of Scots and Chinese; 1 Want of farmers and farm servants; 2 
VII. Great dearth in general ; 
VIII. And, lastly, the insufferable arrogance 3 of the Natives or Indians, arising from our 
smaller number, etc; 

And, having waited long for aid, redress and assistance from the Directors, in vain, 4 even in 
our greatest need, 4 though we petitioned and begged for it; 6 

We, therefore, unable to delay any longer, being reduced to the lowest ebb, have 
determined 7 to fly for refuge to your High Mightinesses, our gracious Sovereigns 
and the Fathers of this Province, 8 most humbly craving and beseeching you to look 
with eyes of compassion on this your Province, 9 and to be pleased so to order and 
redress matters that dangers may be removed, troubles put an end to 10 and population 
and prosperity promoted, 11 as your High Mightinesses in your illustrious wisdom 
shall consider best. 12 Only we have, with humble reverence, deemed it proper and 
necessary respectfully to petition your High Mightinesses for these following points 
as of advantage to this Province. 13 

1 lhat is, petty traders, who swarm hither with great industry, reap immense profit and exhaust the country 
without adding anything to its population or security. But if they skim a llittle fat from the pot, they can take 
again to their heels. 

2 Whereby agriculture and many necessary matters remain neglected, and this causes great scarcity and 
leaves many things undone. 

3 This was not the case previous to the war, hut the loss of their fathers, mothers, wives, children and 
friends, has greatly troubled them. There cannot, therefore, be any permanent peace with them, until an 
increase shall he remarked in the number of our Dutch people in New Netherland. It has been so long 
proclaimed, in New Netherland, that more people were coming, that the Indians laugh at it, and say : The 
Dutch do nothing but lie. 

* Without, in any way, by words or deeds, if there be good order, directing any thing for the service of 
the country. 

5 When people were in the greatest danger from the war. 

6 Application for orders and redress was made to the Directors from time to time by petitions, remonstrances, 
letters, &c, but neither redress nor order followed, except for their own purse. 

' The country has arrived to that state, that if it be not now assisted it will not need any aid hereafter, 
because the English will wholly absorb it. 

8 For the Company neither can nor will give any help, as experience has abundantly taught, inasmuch as 
thev never took our petitions into consideration. 

9 Because attached to, and dependant on, the sovereignty of this country. 

10 The Directors (of the Company) and their Officers in New Netherland with their dependants are the chief 
dangers in that country. 

11 It will be hereafter shown how it can be done. 

11 We shall not prescribe any rule to your High Mightinesses, but leave every thing absolutely to your 
judgment. 

13 Inasmuch as we have observed and concluded, after much experience on the spot, that it is impossible 
(speaking under correction) to remedy New Netherland and bring it into a state of prosperity without these 
following points. 



2(34 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

First, we supplicate and beseech your High Mightinesses to furnish New Netherland with 
sufficient population 1 as to enahle it to support, sustain, and delend itself against Indians and 
others who may disturb and invade it ; 2 for in case this should fail, 3 not only will the direst 
ruin follow 4 but it will also easily become a prey to our neighbors, 5 and those who already 
dwell there 6 will be forced to use all possible means to return and save themselves and 
theirs from misery, 7 or submit to a foreign Nation. 8 All which, in our humble opinion, is 
to be remedied. 9 

Of Population. 

I. Whenever your High Mightinesses will be pleased to take this Province under your 
gracious safeguard, 10 and allow your Fatherly protection for this Country 11 and its granted 
privileges to be made public and manifest throughout the United Netherlands, 12 then would 
many be attracted towards this Country, 13 from which, on the contrary, every one is 
discouraged by the Company's harsh proceedings 14 and want of means. 15 

1 Without referring it to the Company or the Directors, for truly nothing will come of it, as the result has 
hitherto taught us, though they promise wonders. Besides that, the name alone terrifies the inhabitants; as 
they are scorned and despised by our neighbors on account of their evil tricks, even so is the country 
prejudiced against them. 

2 Were there a thousand or fifteen hundred inhabitants in New Netherland, or even more, the Indians or 
the Swedes would never think or dream of daring to offer us any insult. 

3 If your High Mightinesses do not, this time, determine on permanent redress, privilege and population. 

4 It will lose even the name of New Netherland, and no Dutchman will have any thing to say there. 

5 The English, fully aware that our country is better than theirs, endeavor to push us out of it and to seize 
it for themselves, which they will easily effect, if no redress be now had. 

6 To wit, Dutch freemen. 

7 As the tyrannical government of the Company there is intolerable ; for a man in that country is not sure 
of either his life or property, if he but say anything displeasing or otherwise offensive to the Governors who 
comport themselves like sovereign tyrants. 

8 The English or Swedes, of whose subjection there is less appearance. 

9 And so prevent men ever dreading the like again. 

10 So that people may be no longer harassed or troubled by the Company or its servants, but that the 
government, consisting of those interested in the county, may be absolutely dependent on this state. 

11 To which we hope you will consent. 

15 By every where affixing notices or orders, or such like, wherein people could be informed of the Gcneralia, 
both in government and privileges. 

13 When, relieved from the Company's tyranny, it would be dependent on this State, and be favored with 
good government and firm, valid and inviolable privileges whereby every man could with honesty be secure 
of his life, honor and property in future, which now he is not. 

14 Consisting mostly in arrests, imprisonments, banishments, confiscations, harsh prosecutions, blows, 
scoldings, reckoning half faults for entire ones and so forth : In a word, in ruining and estranging the country, 
offering every one in particular, who doth not constantly please them, as many insults as they can invent or 
think of. 

16 Its want of means causes it to have recourse to various bad finesses; such as extortions, confiscations and 
so forth; moreover, the neighbors knowing that, complain of it, and ever after disparage not only the country 
but the people. We and this State have been challenged with it abroad. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: IV. 265 

II. Consequently were your High Mightinesses pleased for a few years 1 to send some vessels 
thither, in order that people, principally Farmers and Farm servants 2 may, with their poverty, 3 
be removed and conveyed hither gratuitously 4 with some necessaries 5 until the poor people 
have something in esse, s your High Mightinesses would not only relieve many embarrassed 
persons, 7 but also may expect, through their intercession with God, success, a blessing 
and prosperity. 8 

III. Also, were your High Mightinesses to order 9 that all vessels proceeding and trading to 
those Northern parts of America 10 should touch first at the Manhathans in New Netherlands 1 
and bring with them as many persons as may seasonably apply I2 and they can conveniently 
carry, 13 at suitable fixed rates, 14 many friends (liefhebbers) would, no doubt, emigrate in a short 
time to New Netherlands 5 

1 At first, before it be fully under way, sending for two and three years successively, four and five ships 
each year. 

* For traders and others who have means, can go and come at their own expense, without any one's help. 

3 That is to say : the little they possess, and which is of small value. 

4 Here arise divers considerations ; for the poor folk that must be sent over for nothing, may, if they come, 
be conveyed on and for your High Mightinesses' account and the freight be paid here ; afterwards when 
circumstances permit, the money can be repaid from the finances in New Netherland, and the land debited 
with it. 

* Consisting of these articles as per invoice : Coarse shoes, Friesland stockings, canvas, coarse linen, kersey, 
cheap cloth of three and four guilders the ell, farming implements, such as scythes, sickles, hoes, axes, winnowing 
fans, spades, ploughshares, and coulters, together with collars, traces, lines, halters, etc. These things are 
absolutely requisite, for an advance of fifty per cent must be charged and credit cautiously given for the supplies, 
receiving payment as occasion enables the people to bring something in. For it is only in order to assist the 
people on their first starting, and should any bad debts accrue by death or otherwise, the fifty per cent advance 
can always richly meet the capital with the interest. 

6 Until they are over two, three and four years in a way of paying, as, with the help of God, no man will fail 
of success in New Netherland, who will take his hand out of his mouth and do his best. 

T Were those in New Netherland, who sit down in poverty in this country and almost perish of want, yea 
have need of bread to eat, and suffer from distress and cold, — and were they industrious, they oould honestly 
earn their living. 

8 People are bound to pray for their benefactors, and if they do it not, virtue is always its own reward and 
God recompenses it. 

9 To order by edicts or placards positively and inviolably, under forfeiture of ship and cargo, should any 
one infringe it, except through stress of weather or other serious casualty. 

10 As well to New England as to Virginia and elsewhere, to pursue the tobacco trade or other traffic, as full 
twenty-five and thirty ships of over and under one hundred and fifty lasts yearly do. 

11 Manhathans is the Capital of New Netherland, and the Staple is there established ; whereunto it is very 
well adapted on account of the convenience of the river, and because it is the centre of that Province. 

u To the skippers or other overseers to be thereunto appointed by your High Mightinesses in order that 
everything be done with regularity, for otherwise those skippers who do not want that, will elude your High 
Mightinesses' good intention and orders. 

13 That must not be left to them but to the overseers, as there will always be a great deal more than the 
skippers can carry ; for people must not be trusted farther than they can be seen. 

u This rate must be fixed by your High Mightinesses and, at farthest, ought not to he more for the voyage than 
30 and 32 guilders for a full grown man or woman eating in the 'tween decks (overloop), and 38 and 40 guilders 
in the cabin. This money might, as herein before stated, Cap. V., N° 4, be advanced out of the public funds, 
and again made good in New Netherland ; and for that purpose it would be very well to cause all those people 
who become free of the country or descend from those who have become free, to pay double in favor of the 
finances, and in order to induce those to emigrate who are somewhat slow on account of their straitened 
circumstances. 

" Being allured by the fertility and salubrity of the country, by the good order, privileges, free government, 
and by being conveyed over on the first voyage, without disbursing any money. 

Vol. I. 34 



266 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Of Privileges. 

Secondly. We humbly solicit permanent privileges and exemptions, 1 which promote 
population and prosperity, 2 and which consist, in our opinion, 3 

First. In suitable municipal (borgerlycke) government, 4 such as your High Mightinesses will 
consider adapted to this Province, 5 and somewhat resembling the laudable government of 
our Fatherland. 6 

1 Which are not to be altered ad proprium commodum et avarorum opinionibus, as has been already been 
done by the Directors. 

2 Were we, in New Netherland, on an equality in matter of privilege with our neighbors, and were such 
made manifest in this country, many would endeavor to repair to New Netherland, and it would not be 
lacking in population. 

3 As we think, who have resided there a considerable time and have given attention to the matter from time 
to time. 

* That those interested in the country may also attend to its government and keep a watchful eye over it, 
without its being intrusted to a set of hairbrained people, such as the Company flings thither, but to such as 
obtain in New England. 

Nota Bene. — New England is divided into four Colonies, which they style Provinces. Each Colony hath 
its Governor, and neither Patroons, Lords nor Princes are known there ; only the People. Each Governor 
is like a Sovereign in his place, but comports himself most discreetly. They are, and are esteemed, Governors 
next to God by the people, so long as the latter please. In each Province are many and divers villages 
(dorpen), some larger and some smaller. But there is one Capital town where the Governor resides. In case 
of appeal, the course is as follows : If any one in a town that is not the Capital, considers himself aggrieved by 
any judgment, he may appeal, if the sum exceeds the limit each court takes cognizance of. Otherwise, no 
appeal lies, and this law was passed with general consent ad utilitatem civium et paganorum, ad dirimendas lites. 
Then appeal lies to the court of the Colony, which we would call the Provincial court, and the defeated party 
wishing to proceed further, appeals to the General Court. This meets twice a year and continues until all 
business, as well public affairs as law suits, is disposed of. Few suits are brought before this court, and those 
definitely decided there are not to be again instituted. 

6 For we are not fit nor qualified to prescribe a rule to your High Mightinesses. 

6 In form of a State (Staet), like the government of this country, especially as in this case there is no 
difference, but fundamentally a similarity between it and our neighbors of New England, apart from whom 
we have no neighbors of consequence. 

Nota Bene. — In New England, the government is carried on thus : Each town, no matter how small, hath 
its own court and jurisdiction, also a voice in the Capital, and elects its own officers. Few taxes are imposed, 
and these only by general consent. In their Capital they have a Governor, a Deputy (that is, Vice) Governor, 
a Constable, that is Judge, a Secretary and two Provincial Councillors. In the individual towns, they have a 
Constable, a Clerk and Selectmen. They call all these Magistrates, and, though they depend on the people, 
treat them with very great respect. Each town chooses, or may choose, its Magistrates annually, yet they very 
rarely change them. The Governor and Deputy are chosen annually by the entire province, although some 
have been continued from the beginning to their departure, or during their lives ; and even some are yet 
continued from the beginning until this time. Nevertheless, the People have a new election every year, and 
have power to make a change ; and they would make a change in case of improper behavior, and that they 
therefore say is the bridle of their great men. This is the mode of their election or choosing : Each town 
consults first by itself and sends then its deputies, and all these delegates choose the Governor, and he is so for 
that year, without any longer assurance. In the year following there is a new election, in form as stated, and 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: IV. 267 

II. In Exemption from duties, 1 tenths, 8 and taxes which at the first beginning are 
disadvantageous and oppressive, 3 until the country becomes populous and somewhat firmly 
established. 4 

III. In Exemption of Tobacco, shipped hence, from all duty.* This would not only afford 

every time the most votes must carry it; these are collected in writing ; but if a Governor retires, he remains 
Deputy Governor. 

Moreover, this is the practice in their General Court, already mentioned. This Court is held twice a year, 
and each time in a particular place where the Governors reside. The oldest has precedence, without his being 
president however, for each Governor presides in the Court holden in his own government. As this comes 
around every two years, each knows his station, unless there be reason to change the place once or twice, 
which the Governors indeed do among themselves, but only on considerations of great moment. At these 
Courts appear four Governors and the Deputy of the place, besides the entire Council, if they be not a party in 
any case ; together with as many Delegates from the towns throughout each Province as they deem necessary ; 
and no business is transacted except what exclusively interests the country at large. Here is commissioned an 
Agent for New England to the Parliament ; and this is what we have learned from divers of the English 
respecting New England. 

In Military affairs they have also some Generalia which we shall pass over with a word or two. All their 
inhabitants, burghers, farmers, planters and servants bear arms, and thereto each particular place hath its 
arrangement. They are divided into separate companies, and are commanded by their Majors and Colonels, 
who are the Governors. In case of invasion or other necessity each town knows, according to its strength, 
the quota either in men or money which it must contribute to the member or members in danger, according 
to the federation and order agreed upon in the case, among themselves: from this league is excepted only the 
difference which the Southern English have with the Dutch, in regard to occupation and settlement of boundaries 
and time maj' determine that one way or other. 

1 It is to be remarked, that our neighbors pay no duties nor any other charges; not even on the wares 
they purchase from us, which amount to considerable; so that a great deal of fraud is committed in this way, 
because several ships go first to New England, and then skulk under our neighbors wings; this they justify, 
and say they must do, because they are too much harassed, tyrannized and imposed upon among us. This 
not only brings depopulation and loss of character on New Netherland and this State, but also greatly 
damages and injures the country. Our neighbors, who usurp our limits, rendered bold and indeed prosperous 
thereby, secure also occasions to insult. 

* Tenths are claimed there from the people, notwithstanding they have been hunted, expelled and 
impoverished by the war. Though many have had their land the full number of years, yet they have not had the 
use of it, having been driven off by the war, so that a term of eight or ten years could be beneficially 
remitted to the great relief of the inhabitants. 

' Sheep cannot well be shorn before the wool grows, and if the people are ever anticipated and retrenched 
in their means of prosperity, there can neither now nor hereafter be any hope of deriving any thing 
considerable from them; because men must have before they can give. 

* Were the country peopled, and the inhabitants of New Netherland somewhat prosperous, there would be 
means here to strengthen the finances by common consent, without embarrassing the people. Meanwhile it 
is to be borne in mind, something always can be effected even in its present condition. 

6 This would be a great advantage for the beginner ; it could be effected without prejudice to this State, and 
be thus accomplished. If your High Mightinesses were to cause to be published here, that tobacco entered 
and shipped in New Netherland, should not be subject to, but be exempt from all charges, and that all tobacco 
arriving from any other port of North America, be it from New England or Virginia, must pay as much as 
that received from New Netherland hath paid heretofore, that is, 3 stiv. per pound. 



268 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

great encouragement to the planters who convert the forest into farms, 1 and be better also for 
their laborers who could thus be supplied with all necessaries. 5 

IV. Also permission to export, sell, and barter grain, timber and all other wares and 
merchandise, the produce of this country, 3 every way and every where your High 
Mightinesses have allies, and have granted to the Netherlanders the privilege of trade 
and resort. 4 

V. That your High Mightinesses would please to grant Privileges and Freedoms 5 to the 
inhabitants for the encouragement of the fisheries, 6 which many suppose were good and 
profitable heretofore, and would hereafter be of great importance. 7 

Of Protection. 

Thirdly. We humbly beseech your High Mightinesses to be pleased to determine and so to 
establish the boundaries of this country both north and south, 8 that all causes of difference, 
discord and trouble may be cut off, 9 that your High Mightinesses' subjects 10 may live and 

1 Tobacco planting is one of the most suitable means of converting the forest into farms. As people in 
New Netherland endeavor to have several corn fields and bouweries, it ought therefore be encouraged, 
especially as tobacco now rates low. 

2 For, all skippers and traders would then be eager for the tobacco, which now they neither can nor will 
regard; for this reason the poor planters, who must perform the heaviest labor, remain unaccommodated and 
reckless. Good and profitable trade would also accrue by fetching tobacco from Virginia and elsewhere, were 
privileges granted for so doing, to the great benefit of the inhabitants and the revenue. 

s As there are already divers articles, and with population many could be produced there, several handsome 
things besides could also be accomplished for the advantage of the inhabitants and the revenue. 

* Without that, there is not always an opportunity, and if that be not permitted they are bound to convey 
the goods they carry, direct to Fatherland. The Company will readily permit the contrary, but heavy import 
and export duties must be paid. So many inspections and exactions must also be endured that no profit is 
realized before ambition is destroyed. Our neighbors in New England, on the contrary, trade where they list, 
without knowing either duty or inspection. 

6 The fisheries first and mainly placed New England on its legs and, were our people privileged, would be 
a source of considerable profit to the country also. 

6 That no others should be at liberty to fish there, or participate therein directly or indirectly, except those 
interested thereunto specially privileged. 

' The rather because we have had some proofs of it, and it is the same sea and facility which render our 
neighbors prosperous. 

8 That the settlement of the boundary be effected. The English in that quarter readily admit that the 
country is justly ours; but their pretence [is] the richness of the land and that it lies waste; also, 
the Company will do nothing but protest, which they disregard, when admonished. Therefore, this matter 
is very urgent, if we are not to be scoffed at by that nation and lose the country. To attack them by force is 
too dangerous and inexpedient for New Netherland. But their own offer is not unworthy consideration ; 
for they frankly say — We have taken the land which was entirely, or for the most part, waste, and now 
occupy it ; ye say 'tis your's. Let us remain friends like our sovereigns, and refer this question to both your, 
and out superiors; what they do or order in the premises, we must admit, and neither of us will gain any 
thing by talk. 

9 On this point the English say — we should live with the Dutch as brothers, were we not, first, too grossly 
affronted by the Directors, and secondly, had we not to snarl, like two dogs, for this dainty morsel, or 
such like. 

10 Both Englibh and Dutch in that country are under your protection. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: IV. 269 

dwell in peace and quietness,' and enjoy their liberty, in trade and commerce within the 
established boundaries. 2 

II. Also, that your High Mightinesses be pleased to preserve us in peace with the 
neighboring Republics, Colonies, and others your High Mightinesses' allies, 3 so that we may 
pursue our country's trade without let or hindrance, under proper regulations from your 
High Mightinesses, 4 as well along the coast from Terra Nova to Cape Florida as to the 
West Indies and to Europe, wherever the Lord our God shall be pleased to permit it. 5 

III. And thirdly, in order to make manifest your High Mightinesses earnest support of this 
Province 8 to those who may be incredulous on that point, 7 we respectfully entreat your 
High Mightinesses to quarter a company or two of soldiers here, for the defence of those 
dwelling at a distance, 8 and of newly rising plantations until by our improvements 9 we shall 
dread neither Indians 10 nor other enemies, 11 and be even able to prevent their mischievous acts. 12 

All this have we concluded, with humble reverence, to propose according to our limited 
knowledge and understanding, 13 earnestly supplicating your High Mightinesses, for the love of 
New Netherland, which now lies at its extremity, 14 as is to be seen in our annexed Remonstrance, 
to be pleased to direct your attention thereto, according to your wise and provident counsel, 

I Without quarreling about boundaries. 

s Both with Christians and Indians ; the English endeavor to exclude us from the latter, so as, by that 
means, to monopolize all the profits of the Wampum trade to themselves. Therefore, inasmuch as the lands, 
jurisdiction and navigable rivers are ours, and the English have free trade with us, care ought to be taken 
of this. 

3 Namely, with the English who are beyond our limits, and with New France, Virginia and the Carribean 
West India Islands, <fec, known to your High Mightinesses better than to us. 

* For the Company's regulations are so selfish, onerous and intolerable, yea, so devoid of good faith, that it 
is impossible to act with them. 

6 For if our trade and commerce be more restricted than that of our neighbors, who are at liberty to trade 
with all the world that England traffics with, it will be very disadvantageous to us and the country. 

6 To exhibit your High Mightinesses' intentions towards New Netherland. 

7 For our neighbors frequently laugh at us. The works testify, the forts speak and express the earnest 
intentions the States bear towards this country. This greatly emboldens them and causes them to despise the 
country and its inhabitants. 

8 For the support of the outside people in addition to the garrisoning of the fortresses ; and as the people 
first begin to establish colonies or plantations, these expenses might in the course of time be reimbursed 
out of the revenue of New Netherland, but your High Mightinesses must at first meet the outlays. For 
the country cannot sink in the beginning into helplessness, and New Netherland will come into condition, 
if some gentlemen privately, or what in our opinion would be better, if your High Mightinesses were to make 
some disbursements. 

9 Well understood, by population, good morals and prosperity. 

10 The Indians are of little consequence ; were there one thousand or two thousand men more than there are 
now, the natives would be obliged to forego and suppress all their arrogance and designs. 

II Who may come from out side, or from one side, as Pirates, Englishmen, Swedes, or such like. 

" With previous advice and order of your High Mightinesses, Excipiunt tamen subitw necessaries et 
improvises differentia. 

13 Not as orders and rules, but simply as our opinions. 

" If your High Mightinesses please to believe us, we say, and it is a moral certainty — if we now depart 
without the business being accomplished, there will not be another opportunity or season to remedy New 
Netherland, for the English will annex it. 



270 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

and to interpret most favorably this our presumption. We pray and hope that the name of 
New Netherland 1 and the conversion of the Heathen, which ought to be hastened, 2 will move 
your High Mightinesses hereunto. 

Awaiting, therefore, a happy deliverance, we commend your High Mightinesses' persons 
and deliberations to the protection of the Almighty, and remain your High Mightinesses' 
humble and obedient servants. 

Written in the name and on the behalf of the Commonalty of New Netherland, 
the 26 July, of this year of our Lord Jesus Christ, XVI C and forty-nine, in New 
Amsterdam, on the Island Manhattans, in New Netherland. 

(Signed) Adriaen van der Donck. 

Augustin Herman. 

Arnoldus van Hardenberg. 

Jacob van Kouwenhoven. 

Oloff Stevens. 

Michel Jansen. 

Thomas Hal. 

Elbert Elbertsen. 

GoVERT LoKERMANS. 

Hknrick Henricksen Kip. 
Jan Evertsen Bout. 

1 Otherwise it will be a shame and a disgrace for our nation. 

8 The English and French hare, each in their way, already done their duty in this regard. Nevertheless, 
we are older than they in that country, and therefore ought also to begin. Prcestat sero quam nunquam. 



REMONSTRANCE 



NEW NETHERLAND, 



THE OCCURRENCES THERE. 



ADDRESSED 



TO THE HIGH AND MIGHTY LORDS STATES GENERAL OF THE UNITED 

NETHERLANDS, 



THE PEOPLE OF NEW NETHERLAND, 



On the 28th July, 1649. 



Transcribed from the authenticated copy of the Remonstrance, containing 83 pages, remaining in the Royal Archives 
at the Hague, in the Lokttkas of the States General ; Rubric West Indische Compagnie, No. 30; 4th division of the Bundle. 



Note. — The figures in the body of the text, within parenthesis, refer to the commencement of the pages of the volume in 
the State Library, entitled : Vertoogh van Nieu-Neder-Land Weghent de Gheleghtnlheydt, Vruchtbaerheydt, en Soberen Staet 
dtssel/t. In 's Graven-Hage, Ghedruckt by Michiel Stael, Bouck-verkooper woonende op 't Buyten-Hof, tegen-over de 
Gevange-Poort, 1650. Sm. 4to pp. 49. 



CONTENTS 



REMONSTRANCE OF THE DEPUTIES 



NEW NETHERLAND. 



Page. 
REPRESENTATION OF NEW NETHERLAND AS REGARDS ITS LOCATION, PRODUCTIVENESS 

AND POOR CONDITION, 275 

OF THE AMERICANS, OR NATIVES, THEIR APPEARANCE, OCCUPATION, AND FOOD, 281 

BY WHOM NEW NETHERLAND WAS FIRST OCCUPIED, AND HOW FAR ITS BOUNDARIES 

EXTEND, 283 

OF THE FRESH RIVER, 280 

OF THE DUTCH TITLE TO THE FRESH RIVER, 287 

OF THE RODEXBERGH, BY THE ENGLISH CALLED NEW HAVEN; AND OF OTHER PLACES 

OF MINOR IMPORTANCE, 288 

OF THE SOUTH RIVER AND THE BOUNDARIES THEREABOUT, 289 

OF THE SOUTH BAY AND SOUTH RIVER, 290 

OF THE CONVENIENCE AND EXCELLENCE OF THE WATERS, 293 

OF THE REASONS AND CAUSE OF THE GREAT DECAY OF NEW NETHERLAND, 295 

THE ADMINISTRATION OF DIRECTOR KIEFT, IN PARTICULAR, 304 

THE ADMINISTRATION OF DIRECTOR STUYVES ANT, IN PARTICULAR, 307 

IN WHAT MANNER NEW NETHERLAND SHOULD BE RELIEVED, 317 

Vol. I. 35 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: IV. 275 



(3) REPRESENTATION OF NEW NETHERLAND, AS REGARDS ITS LOCATION, 
PRODUCTIVENESS AND POOR CONDITION. 



Among all the enterprising people in the world, who search for foreign countries, S,"a??nto^i™ 
navigable waters and trade, those who bear the name of Netherlander will very ? e r 0p roreipi n»ig!£ 

-. ,r • m • i i ^le waters and 

easily be able to hold their rank among the foremost, as is sufficiently known to trade. 

all those who have in any wise saluted the threshold of history. It will, in like 

manner, be also, confirmed by our following Relation, for in the year of Christ 

1609, was the Country, of which we now propose to speak, first found and New „ Netheriand 

J r i i was first discovered 

discovered at the expense of the General East India Company — though directing j" e " ,e sb'.p r '/L™ 

their aim and design elsewhere — by the ship de Halve Mane, whereof Henry 

Hudson was master and factor. It was aftewards named New Netheriand by ou r Ncw Netheriand 

J was so called he- 

people, and that very justly, for it was first discovered, and taken possession of, by Net!Terian™n™ny 

Netherlander aud at their expense, so that even at the present day, the natives res| "' ct3 - 

of the country, (who are so old as to remember the event) testify, that on seeing when the Indians 

J ' I J ■ D fir9 l , aw lhe 8hi|)) 

the Dutch ships on their first coming here, they knew not what to make of them, I!"' 5 " k,,ew not , what 

I O 7 J 'It was ; they knew 

and could not comprehend, whether they came down from Heaven or whether world or people?"" 

they were Devils. Some among them, on its first approach, even imagined it to 

be a fish, or some sea monster, so that a strange rumor concerning it flew 

throughout the whole country. We have heard the Indians also frequently say, 

that they knew of no other world or people previous to the arrival of the 

Netherlanders here. For these reasons, therefore, and on account of the similarity 

of Climate, Situation and fertility, this place is rightly called New Netherland. 

It is situate along the North Coast of America, in the latitude of 38, 39, 40, 41, j^Iiand! New 

42 degrees, or thereabouts. It is bounded on the North East side by New Boondary of n«w 

° J Netheriand. 

England, on the South West by Virginia ; the coast trends mostly South West 
and North East, and is washed by the Ocean ; on the North runs the river of 
Canada, a great way off in the interior; the North West side is partly 
still unknown. 

(4) The land of itself is fertile, and capable of being entirely cultivated by an 
abundance of people, were it judiciously divided according to circumstances. 
The climate here is pleasant, and more temperate than in Netheriand. The The climate is tem- 

r r perate ; the north 

winds are changeable and blow from all points, but generally from the South *"'„ ti " n nd j' {^ 
west and North west: The summer furnishes the first of these, the winter the C0UDUy - 
latter, which sometimes blows very sharply, but it is, nevertheless, the preservation 
of the country, in regard of the public health ; for, being very bracing and pure.it 
drives all damps and superfluous moisture very far from the land, or exhausts 



276 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

The coast of New itself. The Coast is generally clean and sandy ; the Foreland doubles or is broken 

Netherland is clean, ° •* ■* 

w e i^brokei° u l > nto into rslands. To the east of the North River lies Long Island, about 40 leagues 
in length, forming a fine wide river which opens into the Ocean at each extremity 
and affords a very convenient passage inside, along the shores, without much 
risk from the Sea, on account of the great abundance of safe bays and other 

The Ea«t river is a anchorage grounds; so that vessels can securely sail through it, both Eastward 
and Westward, even in the winter. There are several inlets along the south 
coast, before reaching the South River, but they are mostly muddy and sandy ; 
nevertheless, with proper experience, they could be made use of. Inside these 
again, are large bays and valleys, but the bays are for the most part shallow. 

The foreland is On the Sea side the land is commonly sandy or compact (singduchtich), not 

sandy and Arm. J J r i o s- 

very high, yet tolerably fertile, so that it is for the most part covered with 
handsome trees, 
of the mountains, The Country generally is in many places hilly, with some high Mountains, 

hills. flats aud J. a J J r J o 

valleys. likewise many very fine Flats and Maize lands, together with extensive Valleys, 

some of which are salt, others again are fresh ; all very good Meadows. With 
the exception of the Maize lands, flats and valleys, which have few or no trees 
and could with little labor be converted into good tillage land, the soil is 
commonly covered with all sorts of timber standing, however, without order as in. 
other wildernesses. 

The seasons; The Seasons here are about the same as in Netherland, but the summer is 

also the weather, warmer and begins more suddenly ; the winter is cold, and far in the interior, or 
towards the most northern part, colder than in Netherland ; 'tis likewise subject 
to a great deal of Snow which also remains a long time, far in the interior 
however, fully 3, 4 @ 5 months on the ground ; but near the Seacoast it 
is quickly dissolved by the Southerly wind ; moreover, Thunder, Lightning, Rain, 

about the same as in heavy showers, Hail, Snow, Rime, Dew, Frost and such like are the same here 

Netherland. J 

as in Netherland, except that in summer 'tis subject to more sudden tornadoes. 
kinds B or'ero Ca s r wu'h The soil is fit and adapted to the bearing of all kinds both of Winter and 
NemeXnd. than in Summer crops, and that with less labor and tilling than in Netherland. It 
or the timber found produces several kinds of timber, suitable for the construction of houses and ships, 

iu New Netherland. r - 

be they large or small, consisting of various sorts of oak, to wit: — Post-oak, 
smooth white bark, rough white bark, grey bark, black bark and still another 
sort, which, by reason of its softness, is called butter oak ; (5) but it is the poorest 
of all, and not very valuable. The others, if cultivated as in Netherland, would 
be as good as any Flemish or Brabant oaks; various sorts of Nut timber, such 
rod^N.' Netier- as °il nut « l ar g e an d small ; hickory, also large and small. This timber is very 
land ' abundant here, and much used as firewood, for which it is also right well 

adapted; Chestnuts, as in Netherland, but they grow wild without regularity; 
three sorts of Beeches, such as the water-beech, 1 common beech and hedge beech, 
axhandle wood, two sorts of canoe wood, 2 ash, birch, pine, lathwood, Imberen or 
wild cedar, linden, alder, willow, thorn, elder, with divers other species adapted 

'Sometimes called by farmers, Blue beech. (Carpimis Amerieonus. ) 
* Liriodendron Tulipifera. Johnson. — Ed. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: IV. 277 

to many purposes, but the names thereof are unknown to us; we will gladly 
submit them to carpenters for further examination. 

The fruits which the country naturally produces consist chielly of acorns, some or the rrnits indi- 

r , „ . , genous to the couu- 

ot them very sweet, nuts of various sorts, chestnuts, beechnuts, but not many, <*!• 

mulberrys, plums, medlars, wild cherries and black currants, gooseberries, 

abundance of hazel nuts, small apples, a great abundance of strawberries throughout 

the entire country with considerable other fruits and roots, of which the Indians 

make use. There are also quantities of bill-berries or blue-berries together with 

ground nuts and artichokes. Almost the whole country, as well the forests as or the vines, and 

the maize lands and flats, is full of vines, but principally — as if they had been 

planted there — around and along the banks of the brooks, streams and rivers 

which course and flow in abundance very conveniently and agreeably all through 

the land. The grapes are of many varieties; some white, some blue, some very 

fleshy and fit only to make raisins of; some again are juicy, some very large, 

others on the contrary small; their juice is pleasant and some of it white, like 

French or Rhenish Wine ; that of others, again, a very deep red, like Tent ; some 

even paler; the vines run far up the trees and are shaded by their leaves, so that 

the grapes are slow in ripening and a little sour, but were cultivation and 

knowledge applied here, doubtless as fine Wines would then be made as in any other 

wine growing countries. As for the rest, all fruits which will grow in Netherland 

will also thrive inNew Netherland, without requiring as much care as must be given 

to the former. All garden fruits succeed likewise very well there, but are drier, The garden fruiu 

are drier and sweet- 

sweeter and better flavored than in Netherland. As a proof of this, we mav er in N - N « ln «- 

r •> land. 

properly instance melons and citrons or water-melons, which readily grow, in New 
Netherland, in the fields, if the briars and weeds be only kept from them, whereas 
in Netherland they require particular attention in gardens, either from amateurs 
or those who raise them for profit, and yet are not near as perfect nor as palatable 
as they usually are in New Netherland. All kinds of pumpkins, or such like, 
grow there much drier, sweeter, more delicious, and of better flavor, which is 
caused by the temperateness and pleasantness of the climate. 

The domestic cattle are('j) here in size and other respects about the same as in or Domestic cattle, 

and how they will 

Netherland, but the English cows and swine thrive and feed best; yea, appear to tl,r "r e in N - Nether- 

be better suited to this country than those from Holland ; they require also less 

trouble, expense and attention, for it is not necessary to look so much after the 

inferior stock, such as swine, in winter; but if done in some sort, whenever there 

is deep snow, 'twill be so much the better. Milch cows, also are much less trouble 

than in Holland, for, most of the time, or when necessity demands, a little hay is 

only occasionally thrown to them. 

The Wild animals here consist principally of lions, 1 but they are few; bears, ofthewiidanimaii 
of which there are many; elks, a great number of deer, some of which are 
entirely white and others wholly black, but the latter are very rare. The Indians 
say that the white deer have a great retinue of other deer, by which they are 

1 Cougar or Panther. " In the early settlement of this state, this animal was believed to be a lion." 
Natural History of Xinc-York, part 1., Mammalia, IS. — Ed. 



278 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

highly esteemed, beloved and honored, and that it is quite the contrary with 
regard to those that are black. There are, besides, divers other large animals in. 
the interior, but they are unknown to Christians ; also, wolves, but dangerous 
only to small cattle; likewise beavers, otters, fishers, catamounts, foxes, racoons, 
minks, hares, muskrats about as large as cats, martens and squirrels, some of 
which can even fly ; there are, besides, woodchucks and divers other small 
animals, but for the most part, as we are informed, unknown to the Christians. 

or mc Lan.i birds. The country is in no wise deprived of its share of birds, for there are found 
great numbers of birds of prey, such as: two varieties of Eagles, some they name 
white heads, 1 which have a white head, white tail and white striking feathers; 
the others are the common. Also, Hawks, Sakers, Sparrowhawks, Duck-hawks, 
(stecncrytem), Chicken-hawks and various other sorts, all birds of prey, and 
capable of being trained and used for falconry, though some of them differ 
somewhat in shape from those in Netherland. Here is, also, a bird of a white 
color with a head like a cat's, and a body like a big owl. We know no name for 
it in Dutch. In France they call it Grand dux, 2 and it is held in high estimation. 
The other land birds consist mostly of Turkeys, the same as in Netherland, but 
wild, and best and plentiest in winter; also various sorts of Partridges, some 
smaller, some larger, than in Netherland ; Plover, wood and water Snipe, Pheasants 
Heath-hens, also Cranes, Herons, Bitterns, multitudes of Pigeons closely 
resembling wood pigeons, but a little smaller ; likewise, Quails, Merlins, 
Thrushes, Sand-pipers, but differing in some repects from the Dutch species. 
There are also other small birds, some of which sing, but the names of most of 
them are unknown to us, and would also take too long to enumerate. 

or the waterfowl. Different sorts of water fowl likewise are found there, which are all very good 
and fit to eat; such as Swans, similar to those in Netherland, and fully as large; 
three species of Geese, to wit, grey geese, which are the largest and best; (7) 
Brant geese, 3 and White heads; Ducks of various sorts; Widgeons, Divers, Coots, 
Spoonbills and several other kinds, but not so numerous as the foregoing. 

various sorts of The river Fish here is almost the same as in Netherland, and consists of 

river fish. 

Salmon, Sturgeon, Striped-bass, Drum-fish, Shad, Carp, Perch, Pike, Trout, 
Roach, Bull-heads, Suckers, Sun-fish, Eels, Nine-eyes or lampreys, but much more 
abundant and larger than in Netherland ; there are various other species of fish, 
of which we know not the names. 
Tarionseortsof sea In the saltwater are found cod-fish, shell-fish, weak-fish, herring, mackerel, 
thornbacks, flounders, plaice, sheeps-heads, (stecnhrascms,) black-fish, sharks, 
(zeehonden,) tamyns* and divers others, together with lobsters, crabs, concks, from 
which the Indiaus make white and black wampum, abundance of oysters and 

1 Falco leucocephalm. White headed or Bald Eagle. NiMal. 

5 Slrix Virginiana. Wilton. The Great Horned Owl, often called the Cat Owl. Natural History of 
New- York. Part II., Ornithology, 24. 

3 Rotganzen. Writing of the Brant Goose, Xuttal sa}'s: the navigator Barent, found multitudes sitting on 
their eggs about the 21st June, 1595, in the great bay called Wibe Janz Water; and to his amazement, 
discovered them to be the Rotganzen. Ornithology — Wattr birds, 8vo., oGl. 

' In the printed volume 'tis, Panyns. — Ed. 



fish. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: IV. 279 

muscles, with many other similar sorts of shell fish resembling each other, with 
the names of which we are not acquainted. There are, also, both sea and 
land tortoises. 

The venomous reptiles found there, consist chiefly of adders and lizards, but 0f lhe venomous 

J reptiles, and of what 

they do little or no harm; there are various sorts of snakes, but not dangerous; ""* con8i91 - 
if they possibly can, they retreat before people (else they are usually killed) 
except the rattle-snake, which has a rattle on the tail, wherewith it makes a 
very loud noise whenever it is angry, or intends to bite; it grows a joint longer 
every year. This snake is very malignant and not inclined to retreat before a 
man or any other creature. Whoever is bit by one runs great risk of his life, if 
not immediately attended to; but the best of it is, they are not numerous; and 
the true Serpmtaria grows spontaneously here, which is very highly prized 
by the Indians, as being an unfailing cure. 

The Medicinal plants discovered up to the present time in New Netherland, or the medicinal 
after a little search, are, principally, as far as they have come to our knowledge, 
Capelli veneris (Maidenhair), Scholopendria (Hounds tongue), Angelica (Belly-ache 
root), Polypodium (Fern), Verbascum album (white Mullein), Calceus sacerdotis vel 
Marie 1 (Moccasin plant), Atriylex horlensis vel marina (garden or marine Orach) 
Chortium turriles (tower Mustard), Calamus aromaticus (Sweet flag), Sassafrax 
(Sassafras), Rods virginiarum 2 (Sumach), Ranunculus (Crowfoot), Plantago 
(Plantain), Bursa pastoris (Shepherd's purse), Malva (Mallow), Origanum 
(Marjoram), Geranium (Crane's bill), Althea (Marsh mallows), Cinerolon pseudo- 
daphne (Spice bush), Viola (Violet), Irias (Blue flag), Indigo sihxstris (wild 
Indigo), Sigillum salamonis (Solomon's seal), Sanguis draconium (Dragons blood), 
Consolida (Comfrey), Millefolium ( Milfoil ), several species of Fern, various wild 
lilies, Agrimony, (wild Leek), Carduus benediclus (Blessed Thistle), Serpenlaria 
(Snakeroot), Indian figs, which grow on the leaves, Tarragon (Wormwood), 
and numerous other plants and flowers ; but as we are not skilled in those 
things, we cannot say much about them. Nevertheless we doubt not but 
amateurs would be able to find there divers simples of great and varied virtues 
in which we have confidence, principally because the Indians can cure very 
severe and dangerous wounds and sores by roots, leaves and other trifles. 

It is certain that the Indigo Silvestris grows spontaneously here without any or the wud indigo, 
human aid or cultivation. Without doubt, were there (S) people and were 
attention turned to it, it could be easily raised ; at least the other species would 
grow very well here, and yield a good profit. We have seen proof of this in the 
Colonie of Renscelaerswyck, but it was sown entirely too late and upon a barren 
rock where there was little earth ; though it came well up, but in consequence 
of the drought turned all yellow, withered and was neglected. Notwithstanding, 
it is evident that, were it well managed, it would perfectly succeed. Planting 
of madder would also undoubtedly thrive well, even better than in Zealand, in 
regard of the lands and other circumstances. 

1 Calceolus Marianus Canadensis. Charlevoix, PI. XXXVI. * Qu? Rhus yirginicum. — Ed. 



280 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

or tho Minerals. Various minerals have also been discovered here, both accidentally and by 

trifling search ; some experiments have been made on these, according to the 

several specimens limited means of this country, and they have been found good. Attempts have 

of minerals lur- J » ° * 

nished - been made several times to send specimens of them to Fatherland ; once by 

Arent van Corenss, 1 by way of New Haven and England ; but the ship foundered, 
and no tidings of it were ever received. Director William Kieft again had 
several specimens afterwards with him in the ship the Princess, but they were, 
also, lost with him. The mountains and mines, however, remain, and can 
easily be found again whenever there is any disposition to incur the trouble 
and expense. 

The English oast They have already progressed so far in New England that they cast iron pots, 
cannon, shot and similar articles from the mineral they have there ; and we 
believe that here it only requires a commencement, for we have, and there are 
found in New Netherland two sorts of marcasite, white and yellow; mines of 
quicksilver, of gold, silver, copper, iron, black lead and hard coal, and there is 
little doubt but tin and lead are, also, to be found there; but who will look for 
them, or who will make any use of them, as long as there is not a larger number 
of people. 

The variety of earth Fuller's earth is, also, found here in abundance; likewise bole, and white, red, 

and clay. 

yellow, blue, grey and black clay, which is very solid and greasy, and would be 

suitable for many purposes, together with earth for brick and tiles. Here are also 

mountain crystal, glass like that in Muscovy, great abundance of green 

or the stones and serpentine, grey hearth-stone, slate, brown grindstone, flint, pebbles, paving 

their purposes. „ r • , i 1 r , i r 

stones, large quantities of every sort of quarry stone suitable for the manufactory 
of millstones and for the construction of all sorts of buildings. Here also are 
plume-alum and divers other mordants, which might be applicable to the service 
or the paints. of man. There are also various descriptions of dyes here, but the Christians 

are not experienced in them, though they are seen daily on the Indians who are 
conversant with, and also make use of them, to paint themselves of divers 
colors. Were it not for lack of explorers, they could be easily discovered 
and employed. 

1 Arent Corssen. Anno 1646, G. — Ed. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: IV. 281 



(0) OF THE AMERICANS, OR NATIVES; THEIR APPEARANCE, OCCUPATION 

AND FOOD. 

The natives are generally well limbed, slender around the waist, broad 
shouldered; all having black, hair and brown eyes; they are very nimble and 
swift of pace, well adapted to travel on foot and to carry heavy burdens ; they are 
dirty and slovenly in all their habits ; make light of all sorts of hardships, being 
by nature and from youth upward accustomed thereunto. They resemble 
Brazilians in color, or are as tawny as those people who sometimes ramble 
through Netherland and are called Gipsies. Generally, the men have very little Swi^lodrou**? 
or no beard, some even pluck it out; they use very few words, which they 
previously well consider. Naturally they are quite modest, without guile and 
inexperienced, but in their way haughty enough, ready and quick witted to 
comprehend or learn, be it good or bad, whatever they are most inclined to. As 
soldiers they are far from being honorable, but perfidious and accomplish all 
their designs by treachery ; they also use many stratagems to deceive their 
enemies and execute by night almost a+1 their plans that are in any way hazardous. 
The thirst for revenge seems innate in them ; they are very pertinacious in self 
defence, when they cannot escape; which, under other circumstances, they like 
to do; and they make little of death, when it is inevitable, and despise all tortures ^ h ™ e '"ILTih™ 
that can be inflicted on them at the stake, exhibiting no faintheartedness, but j"ad." D ' 
generally singing until they are dead. They also know right well how to cure They kI J, nw ^mid» 
wounds and hurts, or inveterate sores and injuries, by means of herbs and roots aml acciden18 - 
indigenous to the country, and which are known to them. The clothing as well £ f e ' I h D e di !|n S '. 1 ' iDS of 
of men as of women consists of a piece of duffels, or of deerskin leather or elk 
hide around the body, to cover their nakedness. Some have a bearskin of 
which they make doublets; others again, coats of the skins of racoons, wild cats, 
wolves, dogs, fishers, squirrels, beavers and the like; and they even have made 
themselves some of turkey's feathers; now they make use for the most part of 
duffels cloth which they obtain in trade from the Christians; they make their 
stockings and shoes of deerskins or elk hides, some even have shoes of corn husks 
whereof they also make sacks. Their money consists of white and black Wampum T ' ie In<1i ? n «"■- 

J J i renev is white and 

which they themselves manufacture; their measure and value is the hand or black wam P um - 

fathom, and if it be corn that is to be measured, 'tis done by the denotas which are 

bags of their own making. Their ornaments consist of scoring their bodies, or The Indians score 

an'l paint their 

painting them of various colors, sometimes entirely black, if they are in mourning; bndie»tywayofor. 

but mostly the face. They twine both white and black wampum around their 

(10) heads; formerly they were not wont to cover these, but now they are 

beginning to wear bonnets or caps, which they purchase from the Christians ; they 

wear Wampum in the ears, around the neck and around the waist, and thus in 

their way are mighty fine. They have also long deers-hair which is dyed red, 

whereof they make ringlets to encircle the head ; and other fine hair of the same 

Vol. I. 36 



282 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

color, which hangs around the neck in braids, whereof they are very vain. They 

frequently smear their skin and hair with all sorts of grease. Almost all of them 

They make their can sw j m • they themselves construct the boats they use, which are of two sorts: 

boats themftrlves or ' J * 

or e tr*e°8. d lbe bark some, of entire trees excavated with fire, axes and adzes; the Christians call 

these Canoes; others, again, called also canoes, are made of bark, and in these 

they can move very rapidly. 

Traces, and nothing more, of the institution of marriage can be perceived 

Indians do not among them. The man and woman unite together without any special ceremony, 
marry. -, 'I,, 

except that the former, by agreement previously made with the latter, presents 

her with some wampum or cloth, which he frequently takes back on separating, 

chSe"" und 7 tre- ^ tn ' s occur an y wa V soon. Both men and women are excessively unchaste and 

Cwiveu. chanse lascivious, without the least particle of shame ; and this is the reason that the 

men so frequently change their wives and the women, their husbands. They 

have, usually, but one wife ; sometimes even two or three, but this mostly obtains 

among the chiefs. They have also among them different ranks of people, such as 

noble and ignoble. The men are generally lazy and will not work until they 

become old and of no consideration ; then they make spoons and wooden bowls, 

traps, nets, and various other such trifles; in other respects, they do nothing but 

who do the work fish, hunt and go to war. The women mftst perform the remainder of the labor, 

among the Indians, . . . 

and how. such as planting com, cutting and hauling firewood, cooking, attending the 

?n^\ h ,ni 10 'and°no 1, w children, and whatever else has to be done. Their dwellings are constructed of 

thoj remove. hickory poles set in the ground and bent bow fashion, like arches, and then 

covered with bark which they peel in quantities for that purpose. Some, but 

principally the chiefs' houses, have, inside, portraits and pictures somewhat rudely 

carved. When fishing and hunting, they lie under the blue sky, or little better. 

They do not remain long in one place, but remove several times a year and repair, 

according to the season, to wherever food appears to them, beforehand, best and 

easiest to be obtained. 

Ir" e eKh 8 tribc hi of They are divided into various tribes and languages. Each tribe usually dwells 

together, and there is one among them who is chief; but he does not possess 

Indians know little much power or distinction, except in their dances and in time of war. Some 

of God, but have r r 

dev"' tlfwhom they have scarcely any knowledge of God; others very little. Nevertheless, they relate 
^ven make offer- very s t ran g e fables of the Deity. In general, they have a great dread of the 
Devil, who gives them wonderful trouble ; some converse freely on the subject 
and allow themselves to be strangely imposed upon by him ; but their devils, 
they say, will not have anything to do with the Dutch. Scarcely a word is heard 
here of any ghost or (11) such like. Offerings are sometimes made to them, but 
with little ceremony. They believe, also, in an Immortality of the soul ; have 
likewise, some knowledge of the Sun, Moon and Stars, many of which they even 
know how to name ; they are passable judges of the weather. There is scarcely 
Neither law nor any law or justice among them, except sometimes in war matters, and then very 

justice among the ..-,.. 

"in"'"" 3 - little. The next of kin is the avenger; the youngest are the most daring, who 

Their weapons are ^ ^ ° ° 

!!!fJ'tZy'' K et r ""ms mostly do as they like. Their weapons used to be a war club and the bow and 
c'hSaus. rcom Uw arrow, which they know how to use with wonderful skill. Now, those residing 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: IV. 283 

near, or trading considerably with the Christians, make use of firelocks and 
hatchets, which they obtain in barter. They are excessively fond of guns; spare 
no expense on them, and are so expert with them that, in this respect, they excel 
many Christians. Their fare, or food, is poor and gross, for they drink water, The indium drink 

i_ it . . water and fare 

having no other beverage; they eat the flesh of all sorts of game that the country f Mri ?- 
supplies; even badgers, dogs, eagles, and similar trash, which Christians in no 
way regard ; these they cook and use uncleansed and undressed. Moreover, 
all sorts of fish ; likewise, snakes, frogs, and such like, which they usually cook 
with the offals and entrails. They know, also, how to preserve fish and meat for 
the winter in order then to cook them with Indian meal. They make their 
bread, but of very indifferent quality, of maize, which they also cook whole, or 
broken in wooden mortars. The women likewise perform this labor and make 
a pap or porridge, called by some, Saj/sis, by others, Duundare, 1 which is their 
daily food ; they mix this, also, thoroughly with little beans, of different colors, 
raised by themselves ; this is esteemed by them rather as a dainty, than as a 
daily dish. 



BY WHOM NEW NETHERLAND WAS FIRST OCCUPIED, AND HOW FAR ITS 

BOUNDARIES EXTEND. 



That New Netherland was first discovered, owned and settled by Netherlands, The country is first 

. discovered, taken 

has already been stated ; but inasmuch as considerable dispute has arisen on this P""<*»>on «t >nd 

J * r settled by Nether- 

point, not only with the Swedes, who have little pretense, but principally with landers - 

the English, who have already usurped and settled a great portion thereof; The English have 

m appropriated a large 

'twill be, therefore, necessary to treat of each in particular somewhat more p°«'o n o''<- 
precisely and at large. But inasmuch as divers ingenious persons have treated of 
this matter in its length and breadth, and as those pretensions are absurd and 
require but few arguments, we shall dispose thereof as briefly as is in any 
wise possible. 

After their (12) High Mightinesses, the Lords States General, were pleased, in 
the year XVI C and twenty-two, to include this Province within the Charter of the 
West India Company, the latter considered it necessary to take complete possession 
of this naturally beautiful and noble Province ; this, indeed, did follow in course 
of time, but according as circumstances permitted, as in all beginnings; for since 
the year of our Lord XVl c and twenty-three, four forts have been built there by , Four t rorts t hav « 

J J J been built there in 

order of the Lords Majors, one on the south point of Manhattans island, at the token or possession, 
junction of the East and North rivers, and named New Amsterdam, where the 

1 Sapsis seems to be a synonym for Sappaen : Duundare is of the Iroquois stock, and means, literally, 
Boiled bread ; from Onnontara, boiled, and Datarah, bread. See Vocabulary, in Gall., 324; also, Transactions 
of New -York Ethnological Society, II., 79. — Ed. 



There ha? never 
been any diflFUuhy 
about Hie Nurlu 
river. 



Thft fort? nre now 
very poor and 



284 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

staple right of New Netherland is designed to be. Another, called Orange, is 
in the Colonie Renselaerswyck, thirty-six leagues higher up on the west side of 
the last named river, three leagues below the Kahoos. or Great falls of the 
Mohawk kill; but there never has been, as yet, any difference with foreigners 
about that (North) river. On the South river stands fort Nassou, and on the 
Fresh river, the Good Hope. In these four forts there has always been some 
garrison from the beginning to the present time, though just now they are all 
in a very poor condition, both as regards themselves and the garrison. 

These forts, as well north and south, were located not only to close and command 
the said rivers, but as far as property by occupation extended, to possess as well 
all the lands comprehended between them as round about them, and on the 
opposite side of the river; to declare them the Hon. Company's own, and to 
guard them against all nations whether foreign or indigenous, that would attempt 
to seize the same against its will and consent. Nevertheless, this has been, but 
principally on the North east side of New Netherland, in no wise regarded or 
The Enaii.h pay no respected by the English residing: to the Eastward; for notwithstanding sufficient 

ngard lo fori Uood r J 

Uu P"- possession was already taken by the erection and garrisoning of fort Good Hope, 

and no neglect to warn them occasionally has occurred, in order to make known 
our right, and to protest against them for usurpation, force and violence, yet 
have they, disregarding all this, seized and occupied, and still retain, the largest 
and best part of New Netherland, to wit: East of the North river, beginning at 
Cape Cod, named in 1000 by our own people New Holland, (whereof also, 

Their ni S h Miehii- possession was taken, if we are correctly informed, 1 by the erection of their High 

nes*e9 l arms '-reeled r J ° 

New^uoiiami" 1 " Migh tinesses' arms) down to within six leagues of the North river; for the 
English have now a village called Stamfort, from which place a man can reach 
the North river and return home on a Summer's day, according to the knowledge 

Th« English are acquired of the Indian paths. Again, the English of New Haven have a Trading 

wilhin six leagues of . it-* n .1 r a* i i • , i t 

the North river. post situate to the East or South east 01 Magdalen island, at no greater distance 
than six leagues from the North river; for that island lies on the East side of the 
North river, 23J leagues above Fort Amsterdam; 2 and the Trading post is 
established with no other design than to attract or wholly to destroy the entire 
trade of the North river, where it now passes down entirely free. 3 They, 
moreover, made repeated efforts eight or nine years (13) ago, to purchase a large 
tract of land from the Indians, as we understood from the latter; this would 
have been rather with a view to attract the trade than anything else, for it was 
situate on the east side, not more than three or four leagues from the Colonie 
of Renselaerswyck. 

These people will now accuse us of this and similar things, all under the 
pretence of an excessively scrupulous conscience, notwithstanding King James, 
of most glorious memory, incorporated the Virginia Companies, with a condition 

'Soo ons nnders de waerheyt berecht 13. These words are omitted in the printed Vertoogh. 

"Magdalen island is opposite the town of Red Hook, Dutchess county. The trading post was on the 
site of the present town of Springfield, Mass. 

3 The trade on the Rhine and other European rivers, was subject to toll, which system the agents of 
the Patroon of Renselaerwyck attempted to establish also on the Hudson. But the attempt was resisted, 
and failed. — Ed. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: IV. 285 

that they must remain apart from each other one hundred miles, according to our Tb<>v »-einia com- 

' O pany must remain 

reckoning. They are willing to avail themselves of this grant, but in no wise to ™"r! ,u 'frJm "' a 'ch 
comply with the terms stipulated in the patent. olher- 

All the islands, bays, harbors, rivers, kills and places, even a great wav on the The islands and 

r a j ba) . s have D Mch 

other side of New Holland or Cape Cod, have Dutch names, which were given m " ue8 - 

them, long before they had any others, by our Dutch navigators and traders when 

they first began to discover and trade to those parts. The English themselves are 

well aware of this, but so long as they can manage it, and things get along to their 

liking, they will not admit the fact; for those of the Fresh river desired to enter Those or the Fresh 

J river have offered a 

into an arrangement, and to pay a yearly acknowledgment, or to purchase the yearly acknowkde- 
fee. This, indeed, is proof positive, that the right is well known to them, and 
they, themselves, had nothing in conscience against it, though they now from 
time to time, have forged and invented many things to serve them for a screen 
or fence, or indeed as a pretext for delay. 

In like manner those of Rhode Island, when they were at variance with those The original papers 

and documents re- 

of the Bav, solicited leave to take shelter under the Dutch, and to be subject to m f in with "> e sec- 

J 1 J relary or Directors 

them; there are proofs and documents in abundance, with the Secretary or of lhe company. 
Directors of the Company, of all these things, and of what we shall relate in the 
following pages. 

In short, 'tis thus far with the English, that they are very willing to recognize 
the Netherlanders, and make use of them as a cloak in time of need, but again 
when this is past, they regard them not and make fools of them. This proceeds 
entirely from having neglected to people the country, or to speak plainer and 
more correctly, from a desire, through motives of selfishness, to scrape all the 
fat into one or two pots, and therefore to continue trade, and neglect population. 

Long Island, which is a crown of the province by reason of its great advantage Long island u a 

..... crown orNewNeth- 

of excellent bays and harbors as well as convenient and iertile lands, they have eriand. 
also entirely usurped, except Breukelen and Amersfoort, two Dutch villages 
of little moment on the West end; and some English settlements, such as 
Gravesend, Greenwich, Mespat whence the people were driven away in the There are few peo- 

r . . pie at Mespat 

War and which was afterwards confiscated by Director Kieft, but the proprietor 
appealed and so it yet remains, and there are very few people in the place now. 
Flushing, which is a handsome village and tolerably stocked with cattle; the Flashing is a hand- 
fourth and last is Heemstee, which is superior to all the rest, for it is very rich 
in cattle. 

But, now, since we have entered on the subject of Long Island, we shall (14) or Long island in 

' particular. 

treat of it somewhat more at length, because the English greatly hanker after 
it. The Ocean on the south, and the East river on the north side form this 
Island, which, as we have already remarked, is a crown of New Netherland, 
ou account of its convenient position, its suitable harbors, and anchorage 
grounds. The East river, which separates it from Manhathans Island as far as 
the Hellgate, is tolerably wide and convenient. Our freemen have resided on 
that Island down from the very first, according as circumstances permitted. In An. iho, a scotch- 

^ * man came to de- 

the year 1640, a Scotchman came to Director Kieft with an English commission, mand ,hi8Uland - 



286 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

and claimed this Island ; but his pretension was not much respected ; he 
therefore again departed without having accomplished any thing except 
imposing on the lower classes. Afterwards Director Kieft broke up and scattered 
the English who were desirous to settle at Oyster bay, and thus it remained for 
a while at that time. 
Forre»ter, Dowager t„ the year 1G47, a Scotchman came here who called himself Captain Forester, 

Sterling's Governor. J 

and claimed that Island for the Dowager of Starlingh, whose governor he 
represented himself to be. He had a commission dated in the XVIll ,h year of 
King James, but it was not signed by his Majesty nor by any one else. Dependent 
from it was an old seal that could not be deciphered. His commission included 
the entire island, with five leagues around, both mainland and islands. He had 
also a power of attorney from Maria, Dowager of Stearling, and this was all ; 
nevertheless, the man was very consequential, and said, on his first arrival, that 
he came here to see Governor Stuyvesant's commission, and, if it was better than 
his, he would give way to him; if not, the other must yield. To be brief, 
the Director took a copy of the papers, and sent the man over in the ship, the 
Valckenier ; but he did not reach Holland, for having touched at England he left 
the vessel there, and never troubled the Captain. The English have since 
talked loudly of it, and gave out that he had returned to Boston, but he has not 
been seen. It is to be feared, were he to come now, that something untoward 
might really happen, wherefore it would be very wise to hasten the redress 
of New Netherland. 



OF THE FRESH RIVER. 



The English, with Sometime after the completion on tbe Fresh River of Fort Good Hope, which 
the" fres" Eire", was begun in the year 1623, an English schooner arrived there, but Jacob van 

coutrary to protest. , --, . t • , i ' n i t^> 

Curler, the Company s Commissary, protested against it by order of the Director 

VVouter van Twiller ; yet notwithstanding this protest, they came there about 

a year or two afterwards with some (15) families, whereupon another protest 

The English care was served on them ; but it was very evident that these people cared very little 

little f»r protests, * i » v 

ure Fresh°River. en " f° r i*i f° r > notwithstanding repeated protests to the contrary, they finally invaded 
and usurped the entire Fresh river, and finally sunk so low in shamelessness as 
to have seized in the year 1640, the Company's lands around the fort. And when 
this was protested against, they paid no attention to it. They have proceeded 

The English beat eV en further, and have severely beaten the Company's people with sticks and 

our people end de- J 

implements farming clubs, and when the latter were on their land for the purpose of working, forcibly 
threw their plow and other implements into the river and impounded the 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: IV. 287 

horses. 1 The same thing occurred repeatedly afterwards, and they also took up 

the hogs and cows belonging to the Fort, and even frequently sold some of them, ^English sen our 

for damages as they say. Protests have been made against all these acts and 

each of them in particular, but they were mocked at; sundry very severe letters 

were written to their Governors in Latin on this subject, minute or copy whereof 

remains with the Company's officers, who can furnish a fuller account of this 

affair; but all opposition was vain; for they having now a smack of the 

excellence and convenience of this river, and remarking the difference between 

the land there and that more easterly, will not consent to go back, nor easily The Eo s |i8h i°*e 

** o J tl, c | an j t and win 

submit to their High Mightinesses' protection unless respectfully invited thereunto, not ea8il> ' go back - 
which it was desirable might have happened from the first. 



OF THE DUTCH TITLE TO THE FRESH RIVER. 

In the beginning, before the English were ever spoken of, our people, as we 
find it written, first carefully explored and discovered the northern parts of 
New Netherland and some distance on the other side of Cape Cod. And even 
planted an ensign on, and took possession of Cape Cod. Anno 1614, our traders 0a ' P e °p ,e flr " 

1 ° r r took possession of 

not only trafficked at the Fresh river, but had also ascended it before any English D h u g wcon»'derabil 

people had ever dreamed of coming there; the latter arrived there for the first of "' 

time in the year 1636, after" our Fort Good Hope had been a long time in existence, 

and almost all the land on both sides of the river had been bought by our people 

from the Indians, which purchase took place principally in the year 1632 ; and 

Kievits hook 2 was purchased at that time also by one Hans Eencluys, an 

officer of the Company. The States' arms were also affixed at this Hook (16) to 

a tree in token of possession, but the English, who still occupy the Fresh river, Jo wn En t ^ n.g™ 

threw them down, and engraved a fool's face in their stead. Whether this was and "engTave"""^ 

. i . i 1 1 j i i foo '' s face in lheir 

done by authority or not, we can not say; such is probable, and no other than an p^e. 

affirmative opinion can be entertained ; this much has come to pass — they have 

been informed of it in various letters, which never produced any result ; but they 

have in addition, contra jus gentium per fas et nefas, invaded the whole, because, as 

they say, the land lay unoccupied and waste, which was none of their business, 

and, besides, was not true ; for on the river a fort had been already erected, which 

1 The following extract from the Colonial Records of Connecticut illustrates the text : — "Hartford June 
ix. 1640. Whereas the Dutch catle are impounded for trespassing the Englishmen's corue, It is the judgment 
of the Courte that the Dutchmen shall be made acquainted wtli the trespasse, and satisfaction demanded, 
the wch if they refuse to pay, the Cattle are to be kepte in the pound three dayes, and then to be prysed 
& sold, and the trespasse to be satisfied, togather with the chardge of impounding, keepeing & tending the 
said catle durcing their custody." Trumbull's Public Records of Connecticut. Hartford, 1850. 

2 Saybrook 1'oiut, Connecticut. — Ed. 



288 NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

continued to be occupied by a garrison. Adjoining the fort, was also a neat 

bouwery : belonging to the Dutch or the Company ; and most of the land was 

purchased and owned. Their High Mightinesses' arms were set up at Kievits 

Eventing possible hook, which is at the mouth of the river, so that everything possible was done 

was done, except 

introducing people. exce pt that the country was not wholly occupied, and the English would have 
it so ; forsooth, as if these people, who now by means of their greater numbers 
do as they please, were at liberty to dictate the law to our nation within its own 
purchased lands and limits, and to order how and in what manner it must settle 
the country, and if it do not happen to suit exactly their desire and pleasure, then 
they are at liberty to iuvade and appropriate our waters, lands and jurisdiction. 



OF THE RODENBERGH, BY THE ENGLISH CALLED NEW HAVEN; AND OF OTHER 

PLACES OF MINOR IMPORTANCE. 



or the English jii- All the villages settled by the English from New Holland or Cape Cod unto 

loges and their O J c r 

strength. Stamford, within the Dutch limits, amount to about thirty, and may be estimated 

at nearly five thousand persons capable of bearing arms; their cattle, including 
cows and horses, are computed at thirty thousand ; their goats and hogs cannot 
be stated ; it is impossible to ascertain precisely both the one and the other, for 
there are divers places which cannot well be put down as villages, and yet are 

New naTen a mem- beginnings of them. Among the whole of these, the tiodenbergh or New Haven 

ber of New Eng- e 6 ° . , 

land, which consuls i s the principal; it has a Governor, contains about thirteen hundred and forty 

of four colonies. » ' J 

families, and is a province or member of New England, there being four in all. 

(17) This place was begun eleven years ago, in the year 163S, and they have 
since hived further out and formed Milford, Stratford, Stamford, and the Trading 
House already referred to. 

Director Kieft hath caused divers protests, both in Latin and other languages, 
to be served on these people, commanding them by virtue of his commissions, in 
the name of the Lords States General, his Serene Highness of Orange, and the 
Honorable Directors of the Incorporated West India Company, to desist from 
their proceedings and usurpations, and in case of refusal, warning them thereby 
that satisfaction should be required of them, some time or other, according 
as circumstances might allow; but it was knocking at a deaf man's door, for 
The English con- they did not heed it, nor give it any attention ; but, on the contrary, had 

tinlie to encroach on J t J 

the land moreoTer recourse to several subterfuges, circumstances, false pretences and sophistical 

disregard every pro- o ' r f 

thnDsefva byluS arguments, to give a color to their actions, and to cast a doubt and impeach our 

lerfU|, ' e *' lawful claim and valid title to the premises. General Stuyvesant hath also had 

repeated differences with them on this subject, but it remains in statu quo. The 

1 Brouwcryc, iu the pi iuted Verloogh ; evideutly a typographical error. — Ed. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS : IV. 289 

farthest that they have ever been willing to come is, to declare that the matter 

could never be arranged in this country, and that they were content and very 

desirous that their High Mightinesses should arrange it with their Sovereigns, 

and as this is very necessary, inasmuch as the English already occupy and have The E „ Klish have 

seized nearly the half of New Netherland, which hereafter can well be of great »S2 r umS r Ne " 

importance, so it is earnestly to be desired, that their High Mightinesses would 

please to press this matter, before it proceed farther, and the breach become 

irreparable. 

We should now pass from this to the South river, by the English called 
Delaware bay, with a view first to describe the boundaries in this way, 
consecutively; but we cannot omit, in passing, to say that there was here, both 
in Director's Kieft's time and in that of General Stuyvesant, a certain Englishman 
who called himself Sir Eduard Ploeyden, and styled himself Earl Palatine of Bir E " ,uard Pln «5*- 

J den, Earl Palatine 

New Albion; he represented and claimed that the country from the west side cL in f 3 ew m o B ii lbi ihe 
of the North river unto Virginia, was his, by grant from King James of England, 
but he said he did not wish to create any difficulty with the Dutch, though he 
was very much piqued at John Prins, the Swedish Governor at the South 
river, on account of some affronts he had received from him, which are too 
long to relate; he added, that he, at a proper opportunity, should meet that 
gentleman, and take possession of the river. In fine, according to the English 
reckoning, it comes to this: Nothing remains for their High Mightinesses' 
subjects; one must have thus far, and another must have so far, so that between 
themselves they never fall short. 



whole of N. Nether- 
land. 



( 18 ) OF THE SOUTIT RIVER AND THE BOUNDARIES THEREABOUT. 

As we are now about to speak of the South river, and the most Southerly part 
of New Netherland, we shall begin from the commencement, though others have 
also treated fully of it, and shall state every thing, at the same time, as briefly 
as possible. The boundaries, according to our experience, extend at this place 
to Cape Hinlopen, four leagues south of Cape Cornelius, in the latitude of thirty- 
eight degrees. The coast trends on au average West, South West and Westerly, 
and though this Cape Hinlopen is not much esteemed, yet it ought to be taken 
into consideration as being favorably situated, not only as regards the convenience 
of the country, but also as relates to the trade with the Indians on the South 
river, to secure which the English and Swedes are making great efforts, as we The Enough and 

° ° ° Swedes make great 

shall presently show. Were the boundaries here settled, they would all be f ffo , r ' 8 '? ?, ecu "> th ? 

i J J trade or the South 

properly, and without any further trouble, deprived of it, and thus the enjoyment * '„u e iu'io"h" n s!*- 
of the produce both of the earth and of the trade, would remain with their High 
Mightinesses' subjects. 

Vol. I 37 



290 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 



OF THE SOUTH BAY AND SOUTH RIVER. 



The South bay and South river, by many called the second great river of New 

South bay is in lati- __ . .. , . , . . . . . -. _ . . , iiij 

tudo 8s deg. us min. Netherland, is situated in latitude 3S degrees 53 minutes; it has two headlands 
or capes ; the most northerly is called Cape May, the most southerly, Cape 
Cornelius, and the bay itself was named New Port-May, but at the present time, 
Godyn's Bay. These names were given to the places about the time of the first 

X»cov"red b in J The discovery, before they had any others. The discovery itself was made at the 

ehi" 1 tin by iraivl same time as that of the North river, by the same ship and crew, who entered 
the South bay before they arrived at the North bay, as is all to be read in its 
length and breadth in Johannes De Laet's Niewwe TVerelt. 

In the year 1623, at the same time that forts were erected on the North and 

eret'onh'eToi!?. lhe Fresh fivers, Fort Nassou was erected upon this river, which, in common 
conversation, is called the South river ; but it was the first of the four, and for 
the same purpose and object as the others, as (19) hereinbefore related. The fort 
stands on the East shore fifteen leagues up the river. Yet it would have done as 
well on the West bank. The bay trends nearly North and South ; it is called 
New Port-May, or Godyn's bay ; it is nine leagues long before coming to the 
river, and six leagues wide, so that one shore cannot be seen from the other. It 
is somewhat dangerous for inexperienced persons, on account of some bars ; 
otherwise, there is water enough for those acquainted with the courses. This 

Jompared" 1 to™uw Da y and river are compared to the river Amazon, by connoisseurs ; to wit, by 

thoie who know it. those who have seen both. In general, it is considered by every person one of 
the finest, best and pleasantest rivers in the world, on account of its own and 
other attendant conveniences. Fourteen streams flow into this river, the smallest 
of them navigable for two or three leagues, and every where, on both sides, are 
pretty good flats in great abundance. Two leagues from Cape Cornelius, on the 
West side of the entrance, lies a certain kill which might well be called an 
ordinary river, or stream, for it is wide, navigable far up, and has a fine roadstead 
for ships of all dimensions. There is no other in the entire bay equal to it for 
goodness and convenience. The direct channel, in sailing up, runs close by it. 
This place is called the Whore Kill. What this name is derived from, we know 
not. This much is certain, that this place Was taken up and colonized by 

The stales* arms Netherlander years before any English or Swedes came there. The States' 

•reeled on the South J J a 

ar T r"aiof tie 6 Eng- arms were also set up at this place in copper; but as they were thrown down by 
some insolent Indians, the Commissary there resented it very strongly and 
demanded the head of the offender. The Indians, knowing nothing better, 
brought a head, saying it was that of the transgressor, and herewith it was 
thought the affair was arranged ; but sometime afterwards, whilst our people 
were wholly unconscious of the design, and engaged in their field labor, the 
Indians came, in the guise of friendship and, distributing themselves all around, 
according to the number of the Dutch, overpowered and murdered them. In 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: IV. 291 

this way was this Colony again reduced to nought, howbeit sealed with blood ^ coio.j"^ B rd ttT th°J 
and purchased dearly enough. cwESe, to?". time' 

There is another creek on the East side, called Hogs creek, three leagues 
below the mouth of the river. Some English people had settled there, but were 
driven away by Director Kieft, who protested against them, having been, in some 
degree, assisted by the Swedes. They agreed together to keep out the English. 

The Swedish Governor, thinking his opportunity now come, had a fort, called The swede, erect 

fort Elsenburgti. 

Elsenburch, 1 erected at this place, and took great liberties with every one, even 
with the Company's yachts, or such as would go up the South river ; for before 
this fort must they all strike, none excepted, and two men are here sent on board 
in order to ascertain whence the yatchs or ships come. It is nothing less than 
searching ; it will probably terminate in that. What right these people have The swedes have 

,, 111 /.i no right to the 

to do so, we know not; we cannot comprehend how servants of other powers, smuh river. 
(20) as they represent themselves, but by what commission is not known here, 
make themselves so much masters, and assume authority, over land and property 
belonging to and possessed by others and sealed with their blood, independent of 
the Charter. 

The Minquas Kill is the first up the river, and there the Swedes have built 
Fort Christina. 2 This place is conveniently situated, for large vessels can lie 
right against the bank, to load and unload. Amongst the rest, is a place up the pi"" places on the 

O o r r South river in pos- 

river called Schuylkill, a fine navigable stream which also was heretofore, in p* sion of our peo " 

possession of the Netherlander; but what is its condition? The Swedes now 

have it also mostly under their control. There are, moreover, several beautiful 

and pleasant islands and other places, heretofore also in the occupation of 

the Netherlanders and still bearing the names they gave, and various other 

circumstances, which afford sufficient and conclusive evidence that the river 

belongs to the Netherlanders and not to the Swedes. Their beginnings can of 

themselves convict them ; for one Minnewits, who had previously been Director 

at the Manhatans for the West India Company, came to this river eleven years 

ago — in the year 1638 — with the ship de Kalmersleutel 3 and the yacht dc 

Vogelgryp, representing, on the contrary, to the Netherlanders who resided at the 

river on behalf of the Company and of Mr. Van der Nederhorst, that he was on a 

voyage to the West Indies, and that he wished first to transact some business The swede > CO m- 

there in passing, and to take in a supply of wood and water, when he should smth" river n witn b J 

depart. A while afterwards some of our people returned thither and still 

found them there; but then they already had prepared a little garden of salad, The swedes make a 

pot herbs and such like. Our people wondered at this; inquired what it ward! "»f Qr '- 

meant, and if they intended to remain there? They offered divers reasons and 

1 The Dame of this fort ia still preserved in that of Elsinborough, a township in Salem county, New 
Jersey. 

s The creek has in consequence obtained the name of Christina creek. It is in the State of Delaware. 

3 Or the key of Kalniar. Calmar is an ancient town in Sweden, latitude 56° 40', longitude 16° 26'; 
its fortress was formerly considered the key of the kingdom. It is famous in Swedish history for tho 
lauding of Gustavus Vasa, in 1520, when about to deliver his country from the domination of foreigners.— Ed. 



292 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

subterfuges in explanation ; nevertheless, some presumed that such was their 

design. The third time, 'twas clearly seen by the building of a fort, what their 

design and intention were. Director Kieft, on obtaining information of the 

The swedes protest- matter, protested, but in vain. It was their determination not to depart thence, 

ed against, and the 

states' Arms set up. as the sequel of the matter clearly and plainly showed. As a proof of this, 
the arms of their High Mightinesses were erected above Machihacliansio, 1 at the 
Sankikans, 2 by order of Director Kieft, in token that the river with all the adjoining 
countries and circumjacent lands and superficies were under the control and in 
the possession of their High Mightinesses. But what fruit did that bear, save 

d^wn Sw fhe es states l ast ' n g scorn and decreased respect? For the Swedes with insufferable 

Arms- insolence, have thrown them down, and so 'tis allowed to remain; and 'tis 

considered, especially by the Governor, a brilliant achievement. 'Tis true that 
several protests were made both against this and other matters that occurred, 
but they produced as little effect as the flight of a crow (21) overhead, and it is 
to be feared that if this Governor had an adequate force, there would have been 
more mad freaks with him than with the English or any of their Governors. 
And this is, in brief, the case of the Swedes; the Company's officers ought to 

vants °can'" 1 ii!rnhih be able to make a pertinent report on the subject, as they have in their 

fuller informationon . ,, , , i • 1 , i , r 

the proceeding! or possession all the papers and documents, to which and to the journals, we refer. 

The English have also sought at divers times and places to annex this river, 

being, as they say, the nearest to it; but they have been prevented hitherto 

The English expei- in this, bv divers protests, and also by their being expelled by force, well 

led from the South J r J . 

»iver. knowing that if they but once happen to settle there, the river would be lost, or 

cause considerable trouble; for they would swarm to it in great numbers. It is 

The English again currently reported here every day, and we are informed, that the English will 

hanker after the J r J J ' ^ B 

south riyer. soon repair thither with several families. 'Tis to be borne in mind, that if these 

people come to settle there, they will so rapidly spread themselves over every 
place, that shortly neither Dutch nor Swedes will have much to say there ; at 
least, there will be a risk of losing the river, in whole or in part, if some 
particular precaution be not taken ; and this, then, would be the fruit of want 

The Directors do not of population ; yet with all, the Directors of the Company have not to this day 

people it, but oh* #1 . , . .. , mi i • i 

Btruct population, paid any attention or regard, worth mentioning, to the matter, though it has 
been communicated to them fully and by divers letters, they have been a 
serious obstruction and an impediment; for it fares with this as with the rest — 
Greed hath befooled Wisdom ; for the report now prevails that the English will 
build a village and trading house there; and, in truth, if they begin, there is no 
one here on the part of the Company who can prevent them, or apparently offer 
them much opposition. And not longer ago than last year, divers freemen, among 
whom were even some of ourselves, and all of whom without exception had or 

The Netheriandors CO uld have good employers in Fatherland, requested liberty to make a settlement 

request a place on o i j i j 

iu e vain. lh r ' ver ' b "' there; to wit, a trading house, some bouweries 3 and plantations, on condition 

' Or Magechqueihou, of the Dutch Maps; supposed to be the creek at Bordentown, N. J. 

' Trenton Falls. Acrelins' History of New Sweden. 

3 Here again the word is, incorrectly, Brouweryen, in the Vertoogh. — Ed. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: IV. 293 

and provided some suitable Freedoms and Exemptions were granted ; but this 
the General refused, saying, he could not do it as he had no order nor instructions 
to that effect from the Hon We Lords Majors; but if they chose to make a 
beginning there, without Freedoms or such like, that could in some respect be 
done. And when we represented to his Honor that such were offered us by the 
neighbors all round, if we would only declare our willingness to acknowledge 
ourselves members of their government, and that this place ran a thousand 
dangers from the Swedes and English ; his Honor replied, that he well knew it, 
and that it was as we represented, whereof in fact he was fully aware. Reason 
was on our side, but the instructions he had from his superiors were such that 
he could not justify it before them. Now we are blind in these matters, but 
one of (22) two things must be true ; either it must be the fault of the Director The Director warms 

the Company for tho 

or of the Company, or of both. Whichsoever be the case, the one shifts the want of population. 

blame on the other, and between them, all runs to ruin. Strangers possess 

the land and fare risrht well, and mock us if we say any thing. They enjoy strangers enjoy 

free Privileges and Exemptions, the like of which, were our Netherlanders to ile s>' 8 - 

possess, they would (with God's help, without which we can do nothing) 

doubtless flourish as well as, if not better, than the English. Therefore, the 

Company, or its servants, have been, up to this time, the obstruction and There a no hope 

r J r that 'twill fare bet 

the cause that the country does not make greater progress. It is not to be £',"[}£ a b 8 e it C j™"uS 
expected that 'twill fare any better, but much worse whilst it is under their Ject to the company, 
control, such is their greediness and misgovernment ; but the right time to treat 
of this matter is not yet arrived. 



OF THE CONVENIENCE AND EXCELLENCE OF TIIE WATERS. 

Having treated of the situation of the land and its boundaries, and having 
spoken, consequently, of the location of the rivers, it will not be foreign to our 
purpose to add a word respecting the goodness and convenience of the waters, 
which are salt, brackish and fresh, according to their locality. There are, in New Four chief riverain 

° J New Netherlaud. 

Netherland, four principal rivers; the most southerly is commonly called the 
South river, the bay, before entering the river, Godyn's bay; the river is so named 
not because its course is south, but because it is the most southerly river of New 
Netherland. It is immediately south of another, which is also the principal and 
best as regards trade and population, and is called Rio Montanjes, on account of 
some mountains, or Mauritius' river, commonly the North river, because its 
course is mainly, and for a great distance, towards the north. The third is the 
East river, so named because it stretches East from the Manathans. This is The East river, so 

. . called because it 

esteemed by many not a river but a bay, because tis very wide in some places, mna east and west. 
and opens at both ends into the sea. We, however, consider it a river, and it is 



294 NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

generally so reckoned. The fourth is the Fresh river, because its water is, for 
the most part, fresh, more so than that of the others. In addition to these rivers, 
there are still many and various bays, harbors and inlets, very convenient and 
useful, some of which fully deserve the name of rivers. There is also abundance 
of lakes, some large, some small, besides navigable kills, which are very like 
rivers, and multitudes of creeks very useful for navigating over all parts of the 
country, as the (23) Map of New Netherland will demonstrate to us. There are, 
besides, many and various waterfalls and streams adapted for the erection of 
Many streann it to a n sor ts of mills for man's use, and innumerable small rivulets and brooks 

erect mills on. 

throughout the whole land, as arteries through a body; the water of all is fresh, 
except of some few at the sea side which are salt and fresh, or brackish, all very 
good drink for wild and domestic animals ; discharging their surplus waters into 
the rivers or into the sea. In addition to all these, there are fountains and 
springs, innumerable, every where throughout the country, even at places where 
they would not be expected, as on cliffs and rocks, from which they burst forth 
a great many foun. like water spouts ; and some are of such a nature that they are worthy attention, 
New "Nethe'riand! n ot only because they are all, except those in the thickets, very clear and pure 

some of which J ,..,... iri i- 

amoiie in winter ^ n i man y have th is peculiarity, that in the winter they smoke from heat, and in 

from heat, and are J r J •* 

nght cold in eum- summe r are so cool that even in the hottest part of the season the hand can, 

with difficulty, tolerate them on account of the cold. And this circumstance 

renders them very pleasant for the service of man and beast, by whom they can 

be used without danger; for should any one drink thereof, it does him no harm, 

even though it be very warm weather. This much being stated regarding the 

New Netherland property, convenience, goodness and fertility of this province, in which respects it 

in« ?n Eu£°pe im>v " need not yield, as far as our limited experience extends, to any province in 

New Netherland Europe ; and as relates to trade, wherein Europe, and especially Netherland, 

!rad"? U " u " ed '" excels, this province not only lies very convenient and suitable for it, but were 

there only population, would be found to have exported more commodities by 

New Nethenand and of itself to other countries than it need to import from elsewhere. These 

b?e n h b e C re ? after P io' the being considered, 'twill be very little labor for the intelligent to estimate and to 

Netherland nation. , , , .. ., , . . • . , nr 1 i ■, 

compute exactly what importance this naturally noble province is to the Netherland 
nation, what service it might hereafter be to it, and what a refuge it would be 
for all the needy in Netherland, as well of high and middle as of low degree, for 
it is much easier for people of industry to obtain a living here than in Netherland. 
Thanks to God for \y e cannot sufficiently thank the Fountain of all Goodness for having conducted 

having favored the ' . 

Netherland nation us j n t s0 nr 00 d, s0 fertile and so wholesome a land, which we, however, did not 

with this country. "° it»»«# "« j, 7 

deserve, on account of our manifold sins exceedingly increased by us every day in 
this country. We are also beholden, in the highest degree, to the Indians, who 
not only surrendered this rich and fertile country, and for a trifle made it over to 
us, but did, over and above, also enrich us with their valuable and mutual trade, so- 
that there is none in New Netherland, or trading to that country, but is under 
obligation therby. Great is our shame now, and fortunate should we be did we 
duly acknowledge this benefit, and in return for what the Indians had shared 
with us of their substance, endeavor, as much as in us lay, to divide with them 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: IV. 295 

the Good Eternal. It is to be (24) feared that for this injury they will stand up 
against us at the last day. Lord of Hosts ! forgive us that we have not hitherto 
comported ourselves better in this matter ; but grant us the means and direct 
our hearts that we in future duly acquit ourselves herein unto the salvation of our 
own and their souls, and the glorifying of Thy Holy name, for Christ his sake, 
Amen. 

'Tis respectfully submitted that the trouble which will attend the adjustment The expense and 

1 * J trouble of settling 

of the boundaries, and the expenses to be incurred at first for the increase of L he J ! >onnd " v . ma * 

I be disregarded and 

the population of this Country ought to be disregarded, and it ought to be borne considered" 1 "' 1108 " 

in mind that beginnings are difficult, and that sowing would be irksome were 

men not comforted by reaping. We trust and are confident that your High 

Mightinesses' very great experience will accomplish this better than we are able 

to suggest ; but it may probably appear strange to your High Mightinesses and 

some other friends before whom this may come, that we speak so highly as we 

do, and as we know to be true, of this place, and yet complain of its indigence 

and poverty and beseech help, assistance, redress, diminution of burdens, 

population and other similar benefits for it, and show that it is in a poor and 

ruinous condition ; yea, so low, that unless it receive especial aid and assistance 

it will utterly fall away and be ruled by foreigners. It becomes therefore 

incumbent to point out the true reason and cause why New Netherland is in its 

present low condition, which we shall do as correctly, minutely and truthfully as 

will be in any wise possible, according to the facts as we have seen, found and 

heard them ; but as this relation not only will call forth and experience much The relation of the 

reasons and causes 

opposition and reproach, as it will greatly excite many against it, we therefore °J l S, e ^N C th"riand 

most humbly pray your High Mightinesses and all well wishers whom this may hat'ef'uTio mlny. b " 

reach, not to allow the truth to yield to falsehoods, previously trumped up and 

invented ; and not to admit any evidence against it, except of such impartial 

persons as have not either directly or indirectly Leen injuriously affected by, nor 

had a hand in, the ruin of New Netherland, nor are otherwise under obligation 

to it. And with this observation, we proceed to the reasons and sole cause of 

the evil, which we truly, though briefly and indistinctly set forth in the beginning 

of our petition to your High Mightinesses. 



(25) OF THE REASONS AND CAUSE OF THE GREAT DECAY OF NEW NETHERLAND. 

* As we shall treat of the reasons and causes by which New Netherland has been 
reduced to its present low and ruinous condition, so we consider it necessary first 
to enumerate them separately ; and, in accordance with our daily experience as 
far as our knowledge extends, we here assert in one word, and none better offers, 



296 NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

ST* nrto" r o?"jfaw that the cause is bad government with its attendants and consequences. With 
Notheriaud. our ^ es ^ ijg^t we cannot perceive any other than this to be the sole and true 

The govemnipat or foundation stone of the decay and ruin in New Netherland. This government 

New Netherland is J ° 

two row ; nie onie™ f rom which so much abuse proceeds, is two fold; to wit, in Fatherland by the 

respecting it Irans- r ' J 

pLny^anViho^acts Company, and in this Country. We shall first briefly proceed to point out some 

orders and mistakes of Fatherland, and afterwards pass to the others, and see how 

they have here grown up and waxed strong. 

w'd C 't™?r any pians I" the infancy of this country, the Directors adopted wrong plans and in our 

wrong - opinion looked more to their own profit than to the country's welfare, and trusted 

more to interested than to sound advice. This is evident from the unnecessary 

expenses incurred from time to time ; the heavy accounts from New Netherland ; 

the taking up Colonies mostly by Directors; their carrying on commerce, to 

which end trade has been regulated, and finally from not colonizing the country. 

It seemed at first as if the Company did intend to settle this place with its own 

8 r ervaoi s C gi?r n ihe servants, which must be a great mistake ; for so soon as their time was up, they 

cMndr.vai.ad name. returnec i | 10me carrying with them nothing except a trifle in their purse and, for the 

country, the bad reputation of great hunger, &c. Meanwhile there was no profit 

but heavy monthly bills, as the accounts from New Netherland will testify. 

Had the Hon ble West India Company attended in the beginning to population, 
instead of incurring great expense for things unnecessary, which might be 
attended to at more favorable times and then could also be better done, the New 
Netherland account would not be so large as it is now ; first, by the construction 
of the ship Nieuw Neerlant, at an excessive expense ; of three costly mills, by 
making brick, burning tar, manufacturing ashes, salt, and similar undertakings, 
which through bad management and calculation, came wholly too little or 
nothing, notwithstanding the excessive expenditure. Had this been (26) applied 
to colonizing the country, and transporting cattle, the place might now be of 
considerable importance. 
New Netherland is This country and its position are much better and more convenient 

much belter and J r 

maaNewEnsiaud! than that occupied by the English, and had not self interest and private 
speculation been attended to, assuredly, the North or New_England would not 
have outstripped us so much. 

Had the first Exemptions been honestly carried out, according to their tenor 
and not with particular views, the friends of New Netherland would certainly 
have made greater exertions to bring out settlers, and to take up land. The other 
clauses which were introduced, have always discouraged individuals and kept 
them down, so that those of them who had any skill, on becoming aware of 
the facts, dare venture nothing. It is very true that the Company hath brought 
over some persons, but it did not persevere, so that little advantage followed ; 
it had, also, no proper commencement, for 'twas done as if without any plan. 

It is impossible to relate and pertinently to describe, in what and how many 

instances the Company hath injured and obstructed this country. It was 

jecu Jaeob" "waim- unwilling that our own nation should take up land, as appears from the case of 

rw"r. al " ie Frc8h Jacob Walingen and his associates, at the Fresh river and now recently as 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: IV. 297 

regards the South river, and in the meanwhile have foreigners intruded there, 

and nothing has heen done except a prohibition and protest against it. Nothing 

else could well be done, for the garrisons are not sent out complete agreeably to The fault of New 

the Exemption, so that the fault of New Netherlands low condition lies as much SUSSSTlS. *Z 

at the door of Fatherland, as of this place ; yea, the seed of the war was, w " ' ° on3I " iny ' 

according to Director Kieft, first sown in Fatherland, for he said that he had 

express order to exact the contribution from the Indians; this would have been 

very good, had the country been peopled, but in this instance it was premature. 

Trade, without which, when lawful, no country prospers, has also fallen off so Legitimate trade iu 

i ■ r i r-\ , i ■ • • i i , * tiKVf Netherland is 

much in consequence ot the Company s acts, that it is without a parallel, and more k <r' down b y ">» 

1 Company. 

slavish than free, owing to high duties and all the inspections and trouble that 

accompany it. We highly approve of inspection according to the orders given by ] m i" T 'f£ l t f 7 l al e h 

the Company to its officers, and so far as 'tis done to check smugglers, who have couDtr/."""'' 1 th * 

ruined the country, and now go out from all parts; but it ought, nevertheless, be 

executed without partiality, which is not always the case. The duty is high; of 

inspection and seizures there is no lack, and thus lawful trade is turned aside, 

except some little which is carried on only pro forma, in order to push smuggling 

under this cloak. Meanwhile the Christians are treated almost like Indians in christians are Seat- 
ed almost like la- 
the purchase of necessaries which they cannot do without; this causes great diana - 

complaint, distress and poverty. Thus, for example: — the merchants sell their 

dry goods, which are subject to little loss, at a hundred per cent advance, and 

that freely, according as there is a demand for, or scarcity of this or that article ; 

(27) petty traders who bring small lots and others who speculate, buy up those 

goods from the merchants, and sell them again to the common people who cannot 

do without them, often at another advance of cent per cent, more or less, according 

as they are persuaded or disposed. More is taken on liquors which are subject to 

considerable leakage, and those who purchase such from them, pursue a course 

similar to that stated of the dry goods, and generally with so much shrewdness, Go nds are sow in 

that the goods are disposed by the first, second and third hands, at an advance of oneTtwo and*ut»» 

, , , , , T iii. i i /• hundred per cent 

one and two hundred, and more per cent. It would be impossible for us to adv*u«>. 

enumerate all the practices that are had recourse to, for the purpose of promoting 

self or individual interest; whilst little thought is bestowed on introducing people 

into the country. We intended to be silent. But the people have, moreover, 

been driven away by harsh and unwarrantable proceedings; their Honors, 

however, authorized this, for they instructed Director Kieft to pick out faults The Direct™ order 

that* partial should 

where none existed, and to consider a partial, as a complete, error and so forth. It be c ««»iere<i »> 

1 * eoinplfte error, and 

has also been seen how the letters of the Eight Men have been treated, and the p h t ' p le .* car,: ' 1 lh0 

result; besides many additional orders and instructions which are not known to 

us, and are alike ruinous ; but laying this aside for the present, with a word now 

and again by way of remark, let us proceed to examine how their servants, and 

the Directors and their friends, have fattened here from time to time, having 

plaved with their employers and the people as the cat plays with the mouse. It The Directors piay 

r J r J r r r j v/nh their masters 

would, indeed, be very easy to give an account of their management and course lli'^tmU'. a 
from the beginning, but as the most of us were not here at that time, and 
Vol. I. 38 



298 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

consequently not eye witnesses, and as it was long ago and has partially escaped 
recollection, and did not seem to us so bad as afterwards when land was granted 
free, and the freemen began to increase, we shall therefore pass over the 
beginning, and let Mr. Lubbert van Dinglagen, Vice-Governor of New Netherland, 
describe the administration of Director Wouter van Twiller, with which he is 
known to be conversant, and treat only of the two last sad and senseless 
extravagances — we should say, administrations — of Director Kieft, which is 

li'minTrtrauo^'Bim now m trut " P ast > but its evil consequences remain ; and of Director Stuyvesant, 
which still stands, if that can be said to stand which lies completely prostrate. 

The Directors in this country being at a distance from their masters, looked 
close to their own advantage. They have always known how to manage their 

The Directors ad- own affairs handsomely, with little loss to themselves, yet under plausible 

vance their own, , .... e rT , 1 , , , . , 

under the pretence pretexts, such as public interest, &c. Ihey have also comported themselves lust 

ot the public inter- . r J r J 

e8t »- as if they were Sovereigns of the country; as they would have it, so must it 

always be, and as they desired it, so it was. " The Board of Managers," say 

The Directors piay they, "are, indeed, masters in Fatherland, but we are masters in this land. 

the absolute master. "" 

As they decide, so 'twill go; there is no appeal." And it has not been 
difficult for them hitherto to put this in practice; for the people were few, and 
the majority of these (28) very simple and uninformed; they, moreover, had 
business with the Directors every day, and if there were any men of intelligence 
among them, who could walk on their own feet, efforts were made to conciliate 
these. It was impossible at first fully to comprehend their policy, which was 
always artful and insidious, especially as it was so often successful in this respect, 
Director Kied K ave and had sometimes quite a long duration. Director Kieft himself said, and 

out here that he was 

sovereign, and hart allowed others to repeat it, that in this country he was Sovereign and the same 

Sovereign power r J n 

company?" ,otlM :iS *- ne Prince in Netherland. He was told so repeatedly here, and never made 
any particular objection to it. The refusal of appeal and other such acts, prove 
it so conclusively, that, in our opinion, it does not require any further evidence. 

stuyvesant also re- This present Director does, also, the same thing, for he too was quite at home 

fuses appeal. . . . r.r-» 

in refusing appeals. He also quotes right readily this maxim, " The Prince is 
stuyvesant applies above the law," and applies it to his own case with so much arrogance, as to 

to himself the > rr o 

uabo r veTh'e e irw. nce make even himself ashamed. These Directors, then, having the power in their own 
hands, could do, and did whatever they chose, according to their good will and 
pleasure, and whatever was, must be right, because it was agreeable to them. 
'Tis well known that those who arrogate to themselves, and exercise power, for 
the purpose of issuing such commands as they please, frequently command and 
require more than they really ought ; and whether it be proper or not, there are 
always some persons there to praise it; some through a desire to witness and 
abet evil; others, from fear; and thus do people still continue to complain, with 
Jan Vergas, de dementia ducis, of the clemency of the Duke. But that we may give 
no one reason to suspect that we blow too hard, 'twill be proper to illustrate the 
tor left's adminls- close of Director Kieft's administration, and the government of Director 
examples. ' Stuyvesant a little before our departure by a few examples, but we willingly 

admit, that it will not be in our power fully to relate all the particulars, as they 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: IV. 299 

were transacted so secretly, and with so much duplicity and guile. We shall, 
however, expose some of them according to our ability, and let an opinion be 
formed of the Lion by his paw. 

Casting our eye, then, over Director Kieft's administration, we come first to 0f ! he Cliur(-h »"<* 

J »» «»# ecclesiastical pro- 

the Church, and we shall speak, after that, of the public property, both perty ' 
ecclesiastical and civil. But as this man is now dead, and some of his proceedings 
and acts are freely discussed by Jochem Pieterss Cuyter and Cornelis Molyn, 
we shall dispose of this point as curtly as we possibly can. 

Previous to Director Kieft's bringing the unnecessary war upon the country, Unnecessary war 

. J brought upon the 

his principal aim and object were to take good care of himself, and to leave c °""»7 i>y K.efi. 

behind him a great name, but without any expense either to himself or the 

Company; for he has never yet done anything remarkable for the country by 

which it was improved. With that view he considered the erection of a Church 

very necessary, being a public work, the rather as it was in contemplation at 

that time to build (29) a place of worship in Renselaerswyck. Bearing this in 

mind, he communicated his views to the church wardens, of whom he himself Kieftwasoneorthe 

church wardens. 

was one, who readily approved of and praised the project. The place where it 

should stand was then discussed. The Director wished, and insisted that ne caU8es th9 

church to be erected 

it should be located in the fort, where it was erected in spite of the others. And { n , e tl wiii f0 or a^f'the 

truly, the location is as suitable as a fifth wheel to a coach ; for, besides being »ndCommonauy. M 

small, the fort lies on a point, which would be of more importance in case of 

population; the Church, which ought to be owned by the people who defrayed 

the expense of its construction, intercepts and turns aside the Southeast wind 

from the gristmill which stands in that vicinity; and this is also one of the Themiiita obstruct. 

° J ' ed by the church. 

causes why a scarcity of bread prevails frequently in summer for want of 

grinding. But this is not the sole cause ; for the mill is neglected, and having 

been leaky most of the time, it has become decayed and somewhat rotten, so 

that it canuot now work with any more than two arms, and has gone on thus for 

all of five years. But, returning to the Church from which the gristmill has 

for the moment diverted us; the Director concluded, then, to have one built and 

on the spot which he preferred. He lacked money ; and where was this to be got? 

It happened, about this time, that Everardus Bogardus, the clergyman, gave in 

marriage a daughter, by his first wife. The Director thought this a good time for 

his purpose, and set to work after the fourth or fifth drink ; and he himself setting 

a liberal example, let the wedding guests sign whatever they were disposed to 

give towards the Church. Each, then, with a light head, subscribed away at a Evef y oae »' ">« 

° J wedding subscribed 

handsome rate, one competing with the other; and although some heartily ^therflS'wSJh 
repented it when their senses came back, they were obliged, nevertheless, to jjreu^taf'aey 
pay; nothing could avail against it. The Church, then, was located in the fort, 
in opposition to every one's opinion. The honor and ownership of that work 
must be inferred from the inscription, which, in our opinion, is somewhat 
ambiguous, and reads thus : Anno, 1642. Willem Kieft, Directeur Generael, 
hccft de gcmcente desen temple doen bouwen. But, laying that aside, the people, 
nevertheless, paid for the church. 



300 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

There is no church jf j s now our time to speak of the church property, and to do the truth no 

properly. ' * * ■* 

violence, we are not aware that there ever lias heen any, or that the church hath 
any revenue, except what is given to it. Neither the Company nor the Director 
ever took the least pains or trouble to obtain or provide any. 
Thepiate has been The plate has been a Ions time passed around for a Common school which has 

passed around lor r 

th« school. been built w jth words; for, as yet, the first stone is not laid; some materials 

have only been provided. However, the money given for the purpose hath all 
disappeared and is mostly spent, so that it falls somewhat short; and nothing 
permanent has as yet been effected for this purpose. 

The poors- money (-^q\ f^g p or, who, however, are best provided for, have nothing except what 

Is lor Ihi' mn 8 t part \ / r o i 

l",m7>»n\ a ,''an,r l D e!" is collected in the church, in addition to a few fines and voluntary offerings from 

iSL r r^tc n «n P be gut the inhabitants ; but a considerable portion of the money is in the hands of the 

Company, who took it, from time to time, and retained it. They have long 

promised to pay interest, but notwithstanding all that is done in the matter, 

neither principal nor interest can be obtained from them. 

There is, occasionally, a flying report of an hospital and of asylums for orphans 

and for old men, &c, but as yet not a sign of an attempt, order or regulation has 

been made about them. From all these, then, it is sufficiently apparent, that 

scarcely any care scarcely any proper care or diligence has been used by the Company or its 

taken fur church Jjrr o J r ./ 

property. officers, for any ecclesiastical property ; and, as far as can be ascertained, nothing 

in the least has been done from the beginning up to the present time, but on the 
contrary, every care and pains have been taken to attach minions closely, or to 
make new ones, as we shall hereafter show in its own time, and now 
proceed and see, what have been the public resources of the government up 
to the time of our departure, so that it may be manifest what pains and diligence 
the Directors have used and exercised in this particular. 

There was not indeed at first, in Director Kieft's administration, so favorable 
an opportunity as since, because the duties on the peltries were collected in 
Fatherland, and the freemen had not yet granted any excise, but after the public 

The duties on the calamity — we mean, the rash war — was brought on us, the duties on the peltries 

turs paid in Now J or 

Neiheriaud. began to collected in this country, and an effort was made to impose a beer excise, 

about which a conference was had with the Eight men, then chosen from 
among the people, who did not understand it; but requested to know in what 
manner and on what footing it would be established and how long it was to 
continue. Director Kieft promised that it should continue only until the arrival of 
a Company's ship, a new Director, or until the end of the war. And though all 

Tim beer excise was nearly doubted this, and it was not agreed to, yet he introduced it by force. The 

introduced by force. J 

beer belonging to the brewers who would not consent to an excise, was distributed 

among the soldiers as a prize, and so it has continued ; but it has produced great 

strife and discontent; for from that time forward the Director endeavored to 

The Director begins divide the country and to establish a faction ; those who were on his side could 

ti. divid ■ the cnuu- . i ii i i , i t l l i ■ 

try, and is v ry j.ai. no t do amiss, however badly they behaved; those who were opposed to him 

ous if his parlizans <l </ 

are visited. were always wrong, however well they acted, and the order to consider half an 

error as a whole one, was then strictly enforced. So great was the Director's 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: IV. 301 

jealousy that he could not without suspicion suffer disinterested persons to visit 
his partizans. 

After the war had heen terminated according to the Director's own statement, The war win not 

he concludrd unhl 

though in our opinion it will never be finished until the country he peopled, every ™ ore p^p' 8 bo in 

one hoped that this excise would cease ; but Director Kieft postponed that until 

the arrival of (31) a new Director, who was very anxiously wished for, and finally 

appeared; but like the crowning of Itehoboam ; for, instead of abolishing the 

beer excise, his first act was to superadd thereto a wine excise and other stuyvesant estah. 

iishes ihe wioe 'ex- 
intolerable burdens ; so that some of the Commonalty, as they then had no cise - 

advocate, were themselves under the necessity of remonstrating, but instead of The people petition 

J ° against it 

the relief they expected, they received a somewhat sharp reprimand from the 
Director, and subsequently obtained a written answer which, as was his custom, he 
had couched in so lengthy and so diffuse a style, that poor humble people, such as 
are here, must inevitably commit mistakes regarding it. And thus have further 
attempts been made from time to time to impose new taxes and burthens. In fine, 
it is so managed that a considerable sum was received in Director Kieft's time, as 
well from duties as from other sources which are estimated to amount, one year Kieft drew from the 

. . people as much as 

with another, to 16,000 guilders, exclusive of the customs paid in Fatherland, 16 ' IJIJ0 guiide™ a 

° r year. 

which must indeed be also collected from the poor people here, for the goods 

are afterwards sold, and are now intolerably dear. The revenue reached a 

somewhat higher sum in Director Stuyvesant's time. It is estimated that m'tlyTso'wo guilder* 

about 30,000 guilders are now drawn from the people, yearly, in duties ? 

confiscations, excise, &c. ; and yet it is not fair, that the more one has the more 

•he will have. It was however, allowable, that as much as possible should be 

contributed when it was to be employed for the public good ; and inasmuch as it In the p 1 ^ 3 ; 1 ' 8 " 

r J r *-, was provided and 

was promised and enacted, in all placards, that all the money was to be employed p""'^ lha m o n !'y 

#. liii i i- i 1 . p t_ should he expended 

for commendable and necessary public works, let us now examine for a moment i„r the people's 
what laudable public works there are in this country, and what fruits all the 
donations and contributions have hitherto borne. But in order not to commit 
any error in this matter, we must not be understood to include the goods and 
effects of the Hon ble Company, and which are its property, for whatever belongs 
particularly to any person, never was public; and the Company's property in this 
country, including forts, cannon, ammunition, farm-houses, warehouses, dwelling- 
houses, buildings, horses, cattle, vessels, and whatever else may be, possibly ™ c s ^"Pother- 
amount to between 60,000 and 70,000 guilders. And it is very probable that the St 6uwo t to" 

, , . . . „ . , . ... . , , ,. * Builders. Its 

debts against it are somewhat more, liut laying tins aside, we shall turn our debut m-re to some- 
thing more. 
attention to the public property, and see how the money has from time to time 

been employed according to the placards. If we are correctly informed, and have 

fully investigated and examined all these, we cannot ascertain or find that any 

thing — we say any thing — big or little, worth mentioning, was done, built or 

constructed, during Director Kieft's administration, in which the people were Nothing done r«r 

1 o r r the people m Kiefts 

concerned or had any interest, except the Church, of which we have already time - 
spoken. Yea, so much negligence and carelessness prevailed in the matter, that 
nothing was proposed, undertaken or done with even an ostensible appearance of 



302 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

satisfying the people; on the contrary, whatever (32) was contributed by the 

Commonalty was absorbed among the Company's property; and the effects and 

The public revenue means even of the latter, both in one place and the other, have been squandered 

and die Company's 

5crcd r ' y " re BqU!lu " ^ or tne P ur P ose °f making friends, securing witnesses, and in order to get rid of 
accusers on the subject of the waging of the war. Even the Negroes, which were 
obtained with Tamandere, were sold for pork and peas ; something wonderful was 
to be performed with this, but they just dripped through the fingers. There are 
yet sundry other Negroes in this country, some of whom have been manumitted 
on account of their long service ; but their children continue slaves, contrary to all 
public law, that any one born of a free Christian mother should, notwithstanding, 
be a slave, and obliged so to remain. It is impossible for us to relate every 
thing that has occurred. Whoever did not assent and applaud was watched, and 
when the opportunity offered, was remembered. We now submit to all intelligent 
persons what fruit this has borne, and what a way this was to .obtain good 
testimony. Man is by nature covetous, and he is especially so who is needy. 
But we shall give some few instances of this, when we treat of Director Kieft's 

Proceeds to Direc. administration in particular, and now to proceed to that of Director Stuyvesant, 

tor Sluyvesant'a ad- * * 

ministration. an d to see what has been its course here, up to the time of our departure. 

stuweaant is un- Mr. Stuyvesant has been, almost the whole of the time from his first coming 

profitably busy in J ° 

lairs C ' mpaiJ>3 ° f * to our ' eav ' n gi busy building, laying masonry, constructing, breaking up, refitting 
and so forth ; but generally, on the Company's account and little to their 
advantage, for on some things more is expended than they are worth; however 
he at first put the church in order, which had come into his hands in very 

Atier tbe wooden bad repair, and shortly afterwards constructed a wooden wharf, each of which 

wharf and church, l J 

!br"tn" K eo^e ' Juue ' s °^ g reat use ar, d very convenient; but subsequent to this we know of 
nothing either done or made, that is entitled to the name of public work. 
Notwithstanding, the receipts have been sufficiently ample, as is evident from the 
yearly account; yet, like dropsical people, the cry was still incessantly for more. 
As a consequence, great discontent arose in a short time every where, not only 
among the burghers, who had very little to say, but also even among the 
Company's officers, so that divers protests passed between them on account of 
the expense and waste consequent on unnecessary councillors, officers, servants 
and so forth, entirely unknown to the Majores, and by reason of the 
appropriation and employment, for private purposes, of funds and means which 
were raised from the public; but all in vain ; little or no improvement followed. 
And the more people tried to aid, restore and mend matters, the worse has it 
been ; for, swayed by pride, a determination entirely contrary was adopted, as 

stuyvesant is proud if" it were a disgrace to follow advice, and as if every thing should proceed from 

and will not heed ° J o r 

advioe - one head. The fruits of this conduct can speak and testify of themselves. 

People have been here now so long, and would beat every bush ; yet not a thing 

No regulation has had been done concerning weights and measures or the like, previous to the 

ever been intro- ■ 

duoed respecting 23 d July, of the year 1649, at which time the people were notified that an order 

weights and mea- j j 

8urL '": on the subject would be issued the ensuing August, which the Fiscal would then 

(33) enforce — this was as much as to say: "Water the pigeons." Much 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: IV. 303 

discontent and division also frequently prevail among the people in regard to 
the weights and measures; and as these were never stamped, there can be no 
uniformity. The belief likewise obtains, that some, whose consciences are large, 
have two sets of them, but we cannot affirm the fact. The Company's grain 
measure has always been suspected; but who dare say so t The payment in norreapeotingwam- 

. , pum, though solici- 

Wampum, which is the currency here, has never been placed on a sure led - 

footing, although the Select men requested it, and showed how it could be 

done, and added conclusive reasons in support thereof. But it has always been 

misconceived and distasteful. And when any thing was said to the Director on 

these and similar subjects, more than pleased him, a great deal of ill and spiteful 

language was received ; even those who were officially brought to speak with fhe^ncipai"™™ 

him of such things, if he were not in good humor, were berated as rascals, ^mfai^nd^Sar 

. . . D BkioDers. 

bear skinners. &c. 

The Fort under which people will take shelter, and from which, it seems, all The fort is lik « a 

1 L mole heap, an<1 all 

authority proceeds, lies like a mole-hill or a ruin. It does not contain a single ' r s (]e r i " moa oa ' of 

gun-carriage, and there is not a piece of cannon on a suitable frame, or on 

a sound platform. It was proclaimed, at first, that it should be repaired, 

constructed with five bastions, and be made a first class fort. The Select men 

were also asked for money for the purpose ; but they excused themselves on the 

plea that the people were very poor. Every one was also greatly dissatisfied, 

and feared that the Director would be more harsh and severe, could he once rely 

on his fort. It remains sticking between these. He will, doubtless, contrive by 

various circumstances to throw the blame on the Commonalty, who are innocent, 

although the Director desired to have the money from them, and pretended to 

have an order to that effect from their High Mightinesses; for had he applied 

to that object one-fourth of the money which was collected in his time from the The money coiiec- 

~ , . , . ., , „ . . . ted Irom the people 

Commonalty, it would, certainly, not have fallen short, as the wine excise was n°t expended 

J J on the fort. 

was imposed expressly for that purpose. But so it was ; a thousand ways 
were sought to shear the sheep before the wool had grown. Thus, in regard 
to public works, there is little difference between Director Kieft and Director 
Stuyvesant; for after the erection of the Church, the former became negligent The Directors insti- 

. . . i,i ., lu,e P <, r8 r> nal suits, 

and instituted personal actions against whomsoever he had a preiudice. The but stuyvesant is 

1 u i J worse in that re- 

latter hath had much better and more opportunities to assist the people than 8 P ecUhan K ' efl - 

his predecessor; for he had no war. He differs from him also, being more 

active and malignant in looking up causes of prosecution against his innocent 

opponents, than ever his predecessor had been. 



Tho Twelve and 

Eight men 
JlUle to Bay. 



304 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 



( 34 ) THE ADMINISTRATION OF DIRECTOR KIEFT IN PARTICULAR. 

Sufficient has been said relative to what Director Kieft hath done in civil and 
ecclesiastical matters ; whether buildings, resources or revenues. It remains for 
us to visit the Council chamber and bring out some specimens, according to our 
promise. Herein we shall also study conciseness. 

The Council consisted, then, of Director Kieft and Monsieur La Montangie ; 
the Director had two votes and Mr. La Montangie one; and yet 'it was a high 
crime to appeal from their judgments. Cornells van der Hooykens sat with 
them as Fiscal, and Cornells van Thienhoven as Secretary. And, moreover, 
whenever anything extraordinary came up, the Director had a few additional 
invited, according to his pleasure; these were mostly officers of the Company. 
This, however, happened but seldom, yet it produced dissatisfaction. Neither 
have the Twelve men nor the Eight after them, had voice or opinion in cases before 
the court; they were chosen in view of the war and some other occurrences, in 
order to serve as a cloak, and a catspaw. In other respects, they were of no 
consideration, and little regarded when they proposed anything in opposition to 
the views of the Director, who imagined himself, or would fain persuade others, 
The Directors give that he was Sovereign and that it was absolutely in his power to do, or to 

out that they are , 

sovereigns. permit, everything; and he heeded little that the safety ot the People was the 

supreme law, as was clearly manifest in the war; although an effort was made by 
subterfuges and piles of certificates and petitions, to shove the responsibility on 

Becauso everyone others, when the spit was turned into the ashes. But this was done because 

lay at the Director's r 

door the tiiooii that things went too far, and every one laid the damage and bloodshed at his door. 

was ^erl, b« en- D ' « ° 

tt e ft^ d hta r X2t La Montangie said that he protested against it, but that he was mixed up with 

<*""' it against his will and to his deep regret ; and afterwards, when it did take place, 

that he pretended to assist to the best of his ability. Secretary Cornelis van 
Tienhoven also says, he had scarcely any hand in it, and that he had done 
nothing in the premises except by the express order of the Director ; but this 
was not believed, for there are some who heard La Montangie say, that had not 

The secretary the Secretary brought a false report, the affair would have never happened. 
There are also some others who know it, and almost every one believes it, to be 
so, and indeed it seems very likely. No confidence was placed in Fiscal Van der 
Hooykens in consequence of his drinking, in which all his science consisted; 
neither had he any experience in this country, and at the commencement, 
frequently cursed the war as being against his will, so that the responsibility 
remains and must rest with the Director and Secretary Thienhoven. To the 
Director was intrusted the supreme authority; did any one advise (35) him 
to the country's ruin, he must not follow such advice, and afterwards endeavor to 
throw the blame off his shoulders on people who will excuse themselves although 

The petitioners not they are, in our opinion, not wholly blameless. We believe the war to have 

entirely innocent. J < , , 

been caused by the exaction of the contribution, for which the Director said he 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: IV. 305 

had the order of the Majores, and by his own imprudent expeditions, which 

manifested themselves chiefly in the mysterious toast ; but there are friends 

whom tliis closely concerns and who have already undertaken it. We shall leave 

the matter to them, and give a few specimens of his aspirations after sovereignty, ortl,e sovereignly. 

omitting several others for the sake of brevity. 

At this point we are met by one Franciscus Douthy, an English clergyman here, 
and one Arnoldus van Hardenbergh, a free merchant, also of this place ; but as 
this will probably come before your High Mightinesses in full session, in the cases 
in which they appear, we shall give merely a summary of them. This clergyman, 
Franciscus Douthy, came to New England at the commencement of the troubles or Francis Douthy. 
in England, in order to escape them, and found that he had got out of the frying 
pan into the fire. He betook himself, inconsequence, under the protection of the 
Netherlanders, in order that he may, according to the Dutch reformation, enjoy 
freedom of conscience, which he unexpectedly missed in New England ; and the 
Director granted and conveyed to him an absolute patent, with manorial privileges. 
He added some families now to his settlement, in the course of one year; but 
the war breaking out, they were all driven off their lands, with the loss of some ^m"" 8 f ro S°"wB 
people, and the destruction of many cattle, of almost all their houses, and land ' 
whatever they had ; they returned a while after that, and having consumed more 
than they knew how to obtain, they came to the Manathans, whither all the 
refugees at that time fled, and Master Douthy was minister there. After the flame Francis Doutby 
of war had died away, and peace had been concluded, in such a manner, Manathan*, 
however, that no one had much reliance on it, some returned again to their laud. 
The Director would fain see this man go back to his land, in order that every 
thing should have the appearance of being arranged, but as peace was doubtful, 
and Master Douthy had no means to begin with, he was not in a hurry; he 
went, however, sometime after, and resided there half a year, but he again n was expected that 
removed, as it was seized ; for in the hope that some others would establish a have MespatiTpeo. 

... . . .. . . , . r . . . ., /., P' e,) , which not 

village there, a suit was instituted against the Minister, and carried so far, that being done, it was 

confiscated. 

the land was confiscated. Master Douthy finding himself aggrieved, appealed 

from the judgment. The Director answered, there was no appeal from his 

decision which must be final, and in consequence of his remark, sentenced the 

Minister to be imprisoned for the space of 2-4 hours, and then pay 25 guilders. 

We have always considered this act tyrannical, and regarded it as an instance 

of sovereignty. Arnoldus van Hardenbergh's case resembles this very much in 

its result, for after Seger Theunisse had been murdered by the Indians, at the 

Beeregat, and the yacht had returned to the Manathans, the Director and 

Council appointed Arnoldus van Hardenbergh and (36) two others, curators of 

of the estate, and the yacht was searched. And in it was found some property 

which had not been entered, wherefore the Fiscal summoned the curators into 

court, and claimed that the property was forfeited to the Company. The Hardenbergh before 

curators opposed it, and gave Hardenberch charge of the suit, who after some 

proceedings, was cast. As he now found himself aggrieved as agent for the 

general owners, he appealed to such judges as the owners would elect. Then 

Vol. I. :j<) 



306 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

?eaN e a'l" ch ava'' P a tne g ame was repeated ; it was a high crime ; the Fiscal made great pretence and 
fine or 25 guilders. a judgment was pronounced, the contents whereof were as follows: — "Having 
copy of the sen- " seen the written demand of Fiscal Van der Hoeikens of and asrainst Arnoldus 

lence. ° 

" van Hardenburch, and that in relation to the appeal from our judgment, dated 
" 2S th April last, as appears by the signature of the above named A. van 
" Hardenberch, from which judgment no appeal can lie, as the commission of 
" their High Mightinesses the Lords States General and his Highness of Orange, 
" proves to him ; therefore, the Director General and Council of New Netherland, 
" regarding the dangerous consequences which tend to the injury of the supreme 
" authority of the magistracy of this country, condemn the aforesaid Arnoldus 
" van Hardenberch in the fine of 25 guilders, payable immediately, or to be 
" imprisoned until the fine be paid, as an example to others." If the lion be now 
known by his paw, it can be seen that these people make nothing of the name 
of your High Mightinesses, His Highness of Orange, the honor of the magistracy, 
and have used the words, dangerous consequences, an example to others and 
more of the like description, in order to play off their own personages therewith. 

™?nrt'the "'Slier ^ e nave > therefore, placed this act alongside of that perpetrated against the 
Minister Douthy ; and many more such pieces, or similar ones, are to be found 
in the record, if the entries be not altered, which is gravely suspected, as 
alterations have been sometimes seen in them. It is, then, sufficiently apparent, 
that pretty much every thing has gone amiss, and herewith shall we quit the 
subject, and pass on to Director Stuyvesant's administration, with a word, 

onheBiniater clause however, first regarding the clause sinisterly introduced into the patents, as the 

In the ground briefc. ° ° J r 

sequel will enable one easily to determine. For by the patents absolute 
conveyance was granted to the people who then thought all was safe, and that 
they were masters of what they possessed. The patents were next called in, on 
pretence that something had been forgotten in them ; but it was not so, only 
'twas imagined that something had been surrendered in the grant, and therefore 
a clause was added to the patents, which were signed anew ; this conflicts directly 
with the patent, so that without distorting its tenor in the least, there is now a 
There is a contra- contradiction in one and the same patent; for the old deeds read thus: — "And 

diction in one and . . , .. . . . . r . . - . 

the same patent. they enter on the land and valleys which appertain thereunto ot old. And the 
clause says, — No valley to be used before the Company; which can easily use all 
of it and have their competency. (37) Another clause is usually inserted in the 
patents, which is objected to by everyone, to wit : That they must be subject to 
all burthens which are already, or shall hereafter be imposed. — That can be 
carried out ad infinitum, and it has already been enforced against divers inhabitants, 
and has discouraged others from undertaking anything on such conditions. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: IV. 307 



THE ADMINISTRATION OF DIRECTOR STUYVESANT, IN PARTICULAR 

We sincerely wish we were already through this administration, for it hath been fS'io'nbear^har.I 
heavy upon us, and we are conscious of our feeble power; we will, nevertheless, 0I 
make a beginning, and as we have already treated of the public property, 
ecclesiastical and civil, we shall examine into the administration of justice and 
the rendering of judgment between man and man, and demonstrate, as with a 
finger, in the Grst place, the manner of the Director and Council. As regards 
the Director, his manner in court has been, from his first arrival unto this time, 
to browbeat, dispute with and harass one of the two parties; not as beseemeth 

• iii-i i i mi ■ i j- Stuyvesant aetB the 

a iudge, but like a zealous advocate. lhis has caused great discontent acivocaie and not 

J ° ° Hie judge in the 

every where, and has gone so far and had such an effect on some, that many courL 

dare not bring any suits before the court, if they do not stand well, or passably 

so, with the Director ; for, whom he opposeth hath both sun and moon against 

him. In addition to the fact that he hath himself appointed and obliged so 

many Councillors, some of whom also are well disposed, so that he can constrain 

the others by plurality of votes, he likewise frequently submits his opinion in 

writing, and that so fully and so amply that it takes up some side, and then stuyve«ani win not 

° •> t j l admit ot any contra- 

his word is: "Gentlemen, this is my opinion; if any one have aught to object diclion or advic «- 

to it, let him express it." If any one, then, on the instant, offer objection, which 

is not very easy unless he be well grounded, his Honor bursts forth, incontinently, 

into a rage and makes such a to-do that it is dreadful; yea, he frequently abuses 

the Councillors as this and as that, in foul language better befitting the fishmarket 

than the Council board ; and if all this be tolerated, he will not be satisfied until 

he have his way. To prove this by example and certificates, though possible, 

would, however, carry us to too great a length. But, we all say and affirm, that 

such has, from the commencement, been and still continues daily to be, the 

common practice, and that this is the conduct and bearing in the Council of 

the Director who is president and head thereof. Let us now, also, cursorily 

speak of each of the other Councillors. Lubbert van Dinklagen, the Vice- H'U^JS^j grea '' 

Governor, hath for a long time exhibited great dissatisfaction, and on several 

occasions, and for divers matters, (3S) hath protested against the Director and 

his appointed Council, but it is only of late, after some others had offered 

opposition. He had been previously so influenced by fear that he durst not 

oppose the Director, but was obliged to let many things take their course and 

submit to them, to which, he afterwards declared, he had great objection because 

they were unjust, but he saw no other way to secure peace; for the Director 

himself said, in Council, that he would treat him worse than Wouter van 

Twiller had ever done, if he would not obey his wishes. This man is then 

overruled. Let us now proceed further. Monsieur La Montanie had been in 

the Council in Kieft's time, and was then, by many, greatly suspected ; he hath La Montana dare 

' « J ° J r ' not epeak freely. 

no commission from Fatherland ; was, also, driven off his land by the war ; is 



308 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

deeply in the Company's debt, and is, therefore, under the necessity of 
dissembling; but it is sufficiently notorious, and has been heard from himself, 
that he was not pleased with, and disapproved of that administration. Brian 
Muyson [Nuton], lieutenant of the soldiers, comes next. This man dreads the 
Director, and honors him as his benefactor; besides being very ignorant ajid 
n<u understand oir inexperienced in the law, he is totally unacquainted with our Dutch language, 

language, and must . t . .. 

say Yes. so that he is entirely unqualified to reply to the elaborately written opinions, 

except that he indeed must and will say, Yes. Adrian Keyser, the Commissary, 

commissary Adri- who came here as Secretary, is also sometimes admitted to the Council. This 

aen Keyser. 

man hath not forgotten much law, but says, himself, that he lets God's water 

run over God's field. This man, then, can say nothing, and dare not say 

anything; for so much devolves on him that it is best that he keep quiet. The 

The captains onhe Captains of the ships have also a vote in the Council when they are ashore, 

ships have a vote m r r J 

mu.vve8ant cl raiis an at such as Jelmer Tomas and Paulus Lenaersse, who was appointed Naval agent 
which they do eT not on his first arriving here, and has always had a seat in the Council, but he is, 
now, a freeman. Every one can easily imagine the amount of knowledge these 
men, who have spent all their lives at sea and have been brought up to 
ship business, possess of matters of law and of husbandmen's disputes; besides 
which, the Director keeps them so dependent that they dare not speak, as will 
appear from this circumstance at Curasao, before the Director ever saw New 
Netherland. As they were discoursing about the value of Caracks, the Director 
himself said to the minister and others: "Domine Johannes, I thought 1 had 
" bi ought honest skippers with me, but I find that I have brought a pack of 
thieves." And this was said of these gentlemen Councillors, but principally 
of the Naval officer, for Captain Jelmer was mostly all the time at sea. But they 
let it pass unnoticed, a sign that they were dependent ; they did not fare the worse 
for it, however, for Paulus Lenaertse hath but trifling wages and yet has built a 
better dwelling-house here than any other person. How this is done, is too deep 
The Director bear- f or us • f or though the Director is aware of these things, he nevertheless observes 

ing so much from 7 ° ° 

L"" 1 " 9 in ^™f/,!f e silence when Paulus Lenaertse begins to get excited, which he would not suffer 
from any other person ; and this gives rise to divers unfavorable surmises. To 
complete the bench of justice, there still remain the Secretary and the Fiscal 
Hendrick van Dyck, who has been formerly here as Ensign. Director Stuyvesant 

The Fiscal 29 exc ] u ded him twenty-nine (39) months from the Council board, for the reason, 

months out of the j \ / 

among others, as his Honor stated, that he cannot keep a secret, but divulges 
whatever is done there. He also frequently declared that he was a villain, a 
scoundrel, a thief, &c. And all this is well known to the Fiscal, but he dare not 
adopt the right course in the matter ; and, in our opinion, 'tis not advisable for 
him to do so ; for he is a man wholly intolerable alike in words and deeds. 
What shall we say of one whose head is a trouble to him and whose screw is 
loose, especially when it is surrounded by a little sap in the wood, which is no 
rare occurrence, as he is master at home. Cornelis Van Thienhoven, the 
Secretary, conies next. A great deal might be said of this man ; more even 



CounclL 



The Fiscal is none 
of the wisest. 



The cause of the 
war is principally 
attributed to him. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: IV. 309 

than we are able to set forth. For brevity's sake, however, we shall select here ™ e e n ^ng'uf the 
and there a few traits. He is crafty, subtle, intelligent, sharp-witted — good SdrSt7' "win/the 

. r , . , . , T _ /• i I. , i . • Indians, he runs 

gilts when properly applied. He is one ot those who have been longest in this like an Indian; he 

c r ' J ' ' ° is now a downright 

country ; is thoroughly acquainted with every circumstance relating both to the Maciuaveiiut. 

Christians and the Indians. With the Indians even, he has run about like an 

Indian, with little covering and a patch before him through lust for the prostitutes 

to whom he has ever been excessively addicted, and with whom he has had so 

much intercourse, that no punishment nor menaces of the Director can drive him 

from them. He is a great adept at dissimulation, and even when laughing, 

intends to bite, and professes the warmest friendship where he hates the deepest. 

To every one who has business with him — and there is scarcely one but has — 

he gives a favorable reply, promises assistance and assists scarcely any body, or 

leads them continually off on some course or the other, except the Minister's 

friends. In his words and acts he is loose, false, deceitful and given to lying; 

prodigal of promises, and when it comes to performance, nobody is home. The 

origin of the war was attributed, principally, to him and some of his friends. 

The Director was led astray by his false reports and lies, and this is the opinion 

and declaration of both reliable Indians and Christians. Now if the Voice of 

the People be, according to the maxim, the Voice of God, of this man hardly any or him nothing 

10 J J good can be said, 

good can, with truth, be said, and no evil concealed. With the exception of j!onceaied bins bad 

the Director and his party, the whole country cries out against him, as a villain, 

a murderer and a traitor, and that he must quit the country or there will not be 

any peace with the Indians. Director Stuyvesant was, at first and also 

afterwards, well informed of this ; who, nevertheless, retained him in office, 

and gave him so much latitude that everything follows his behest more than if 

he were President; yea, who even says, that he is well content to employ him ; 

but that stone is still rolling. We are convinced, and do believe, that he 

misleads the General in many respects, and causes him to do much evil that 

otherwise would not be committed. In a word, he is a proximate cause of his ruin 

and of the country's difficulty ; but, it seems, the Director can not, or will not see 

it. For, when some persons represented the matter to him, 'twas of no avail ; 

but an effort was made to palliate it, and so to mauage that no one in Fatherland, 

where the truth may be freely spoken, could molest him for the purpose of 

getting at the truth, which is by no means their object. The attributes, then, of 

the members of the Council having been fixed, it is easy to conjecture that the 

(40) Court people stood by each other for the purpose of upholding the imaginary 

Sovereignty. And in order to gloze over that matter altogether, Nine men were 

chosen as representatives of the entire Commonalty, and it was in the fnTre^resent 10 ?!." 

commissions and instruction declared, that what these men did, should be the act 

of the whole people ; as it, indeed, was when it accorded with the Director's 

opinion and views, for they represent the entire people. But when it happened 

otherwise, then they were Boobies, usurers, rebels, and such like. But, to 

understand this properly, 'twill be best briefly to state, in chronological order, 

every occurrence here during his administration, and how unjustly those have 

been treated who have sought the good of the country. 



310 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

His first arrival — for we speak not here of what passed on the voyage — was 
peacock like, with great state and pomposity ; the report that his Honor wished to 
remain here only three years and other boasts induced some to think that he would 
not act the father. The word Myn Heer Generael and such like titles, were 

Many placards never known here before. He was busy almost every day issuing proclamations 
of various sorts, most of which were never observed and have long since died, 

The proceeding the w ine excise excepted, for that was a source of profit. The proceedings against 

against Joehem r * * ^ 

hM\T SS c e ensurabie n tne Eight men, particularly against Jochum Pieters Cuytter and Cornelis Molyn 
occurred also in the beginning, and the Director manifested so much partiality 
therein, that he afforded many an opportunity of judging of his character and its 
nature, but little to his advantage ; for every one clearly saw and remarked that 
Director Kieft had more favor and aid and counsel in his suit than his adversary, 
and that one Director was the advocate of the other, as Director Stuyvesant's 

smyvesant exhibit own words imported and signified when he said : " These Boorish brutes would 

harshness, and , , t i 11 i 

wishes to harass hereafter endeavor to knock me over also, but 1 shall now manage it so that 

the farmers. 

they will have their bellies full in all time to come." And how it was managed 
the result of the suit can testify, for they must pay fines and were cruelly banished, 
and in order that nothing should be wanting, when Cornelis Molyn pleaded for 
grace until intelligence of the result of his appeal in Fatherland should be 
received, he was threatened, as Molyn who is a living man hath himself declared, 
in these or similar words: — "Had I known, Molyn, that you would have divulged 
our sentence, or brought it before their High Mightinesses, I should have had 
Moiyn threatened to you hanged forthwith on the highest tree in New Netherland." Now as this 
occurred before two pairs of eyes, it can be denied ; it may not be true, but 
what is remarkable, it is so confirmed by similar cases as not to admit of a doubt ; 
for it once came to pass in the Minister's house, after their departure, when the 
Consistory had met there and was risen, that one Arnoldus van Herdenberch 
related the proceedings relative to Seger Theunisse, and how he had appealed as 
curator, from the judgment, whereupon the Director, who had sat there as an 
stuyvesant declared Elder, took up the word and answered: "People may think of appealing during 
that he would put m y time — should any one do so, I would have him made a foot shorter, pack the 

the man to death J J 

n , ommr l Qd a men 8 tl pieces off to Holland and let him (41) appeal in that way." O cruel words! 
what more could a Sovereign do ? And all this is still further confirmed, for after 
Jochem Pietersse Cuyter and Cornelis Molyn went to Fatherland to prosecute 
their appeal, and letters were received here from them, and it was rumored that 
they were maintained or would be successful, the Director, speaking of Jochim 
Pieterss Cuyter and Cornelis Molyn, openly declared at various times and on 
stuyvesant eon- many occasions, both in presence of inhabitants and strangers, that " Even tho' 
JnrH.gh °M^wy they return and bring a States' order they would be no better off than they were; 

Lords the States. , ,. , . » _ T . , , --. , ,■ 

I should immediately send them back, unless their High Mightinesses summon 
me." His Honor has always maintained that no appeal lay, or could lie from 
this country, and that he was sufficiently able to prove it. And when some 
would not believe it, especially in cases against the Company or its chief officers, 
a great many extracts from divers authorities were quoted, not much to the point 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: IV. 311 

however. In the beginning, also, when Director Kieft was still here, the English 
Clergyman requested permission to depart to the Islands or to Netherland, as he 
had lived and labored a long while without proper maintenance, and as his land 
was now confiscated; but he always received an unfavorable answer and was 
threatened with this and that. Finally, it came to pass that he may depart on A P r ™»«« was r «- 

J r J Y fjmren from (he 

condition of promising under his hand that, wherever he should go, he would not nmt'he dmu^ 

mention, nor complain of the manner he was treated here in New Netherland by uL^a.'" he "" 

Director Kieft or Stuyvesant. This the man himself declares. Mr. Dinklagen 

and Commander Looper, who were then members of the Council, also vouch for 

its truth. If the Directors can now justify it to their own consciences, 'tis a 

wonder what they will then do with such certificates ; and many other things of 

a similar character have occurred, but very secretly. 

At first, the Hou ble Director also began to condemn very severely the 
contraband trade, which indeed was a very commendable act, were the law 
passed and enforced; but he would himself do what he forbade to others, and 
this the people will not understand. His Honor said and openly maintained, 
that it was lawful for him on the Company's account to sell powder, lead and 
guns to the Indians, but for no one else ; that he would have a resolution passed stuyvesant *<.ii» 
to that effect and even commence the work. What the purport of the resolution u"e M indiun8. leadl ° 
is, we know not; but the character of the action is notorious to every inhabitant, 
for through his employes the Director hath publicly carried on trade with the 
the Indians ; and he hath deprived freemen of one or two guns which they had 
brought with them for their own use and amusement; for some of which he 
paid what he thought proper, for others nothing; and then sold them to the 
Indians. But this could amount to nothing, and had little effect; some other 
course must be adopted. And with this view, one Gerrit Vastrick, a trader, was 
authorized to bring with him a case of guns, as is ascertained, in order, as it SIUTVeaant im ort , 
was reported, to supply the Indians with a sparing hand. (42) The transaction Rcaseof s un8 - 
with this case was so public, that not a man at the Manhatans but knew of it, 
and people had plenty to do, to quiet the public; every one made his own 
comment, for it was remarked that the vessel, as others indeed before it, had 
not been inspected, and it was presumed that a great quantity of guns, powder 
and lead were on board the ship for the Governor, but as the first did not succeed 
very well, nothing was said respecting the remainder. But this might have 
passed off did not every one remark what an excuse and justification the 
Director's doing so afforded to all others, both the skipper and trader, who had 
early information of it and now were reported to have brought out guns to a 
large amount. And greater credit was attached to this, as they proceeded to 
the right place and the returns they realized, though dumb, speak. This 
created inexpressible dissatisfaction among the common people, and even 
among the other officers, and had not the people been both persuaded and 
restrained, something serious might have been the consequence. It is also 
added: — " The Director is in, and carries on, all sorts of business all over the nn^ff'Sof"!!^ 
" country, for he hath various stores of his own ; he is a brewer, hath bouweries, 



nose. 



312 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

"is part owner of ships, a merchant and a trader both in lawful and contraband 
" articles." The Director, however, disregards what is said, and exhibits the 
order of the Direc- Company's order for so doing, adding that he should receive by the Valckenier 
L°)d'"ad?" vnv " i " a supply of powder and lead for this purpose. In fine, he who forbids the trade 
to others on pain of death, will carry it on himself, both covertly and publicly, 
and desires, contrary to all sound principles, that his example shall not be 
followed. And if others happen to follow it, which indeed is too often secretly 
the case, then away with such people to the gallows. This have we witnessed 
jaTOb e '' m ft S eynH'"n8 ia the case of Jacob Ryntgens and Jacob van Schermerhoren, who were capitally 
mtrhoorn. ' " prosecuted for this offence, and a great deal of difficulty was experienced before 
they could be got off, and even then they were banished as felons and their 
property was confiscated. By the repeated interposition of several worthy 
citizens, the banishment was revoked, but the property which was somewhat 
considerable, they being importers, remained confiscated. 
jS e The n u f n , u!Kki We cannot refrain from relating here what happened to one Joost Theuniss: 
Backer, as he has complained to us that his case was one of gross injustice, which 
it indeed is. For the man, being an honest Burgher here, of good repute, though 
moderate means, was thrust into prison, and charges raked up against him from 
every hole and corner, on the information of one of the Company's servants, who, 
according to the statement of the General and Council, had richly merited the 
gallows three times, and for whom even a new one had been erected, which, 
however, he had out of mercy, escaped ; finally, not a shadow of a charge 
being established, the accused was liberated, after 13 days imprisonment, on 
giving sufficient bail. If the Fiscal should find anything, he is to institute 
his action, but up to this time nothing has been done. A considerable time 
having elapsed, we, as organ of the Commonalty, respectfully demanded, at 
his request, as his bail was importunate, that the man should have his trial 
and be (43) punished according to his deserts, if he were guilty ; if not, that he 
be discharged. But it availed nothing, for we received injurious language, 
and the Fiscal was allowed to vomit forth whatever came into his mouth, and the 
man became the subject every where of dislike, and was abused as a hideous 
monster. Did he petition for anything, even if it were just, he received coarse, 
angry abuse; his petition was not received, and justice was denied him. These 
things cause great dissatisfaction, and excite thoughts of abandoning the country. 
Proceedings against Pieter van der Linden fared no better, but he was not imprisoned, though 

Pieter van der Lin- r ° 

den - many were, the most of whom are frightened, and would speak if they dare. Now 

as the Company itself carries on the forbidden trade, the people think that it is 
no sin for them too to prosecute it, if they can do so with impunity. And this gives 
rise to an incredible amount of smuggling and fraud. It does not appear to 

Placard for thepro- prevail this year as much as usual. The publication of a placard offering freedom 

"" and protection here to those liable to civil or criminal prosecution in New 

England, hath also greatly embittered the minds of the English, and it was 

The Director is right considered to be by everyone of evil consequence. Mr. Stuyvesant's promptness 

ready to confiscate. # . 

at confiscating, causes also great discontent among the inhabitants. Scarce a ship 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: IV. 313 

comes in, or near this place, that he does not look on as a prize, unless it be the 
property of friends. Great pretensions will be set up on this subject, though 
with slender profit. Their merits we shall not question ; but confiscation hath 
made so much noise in New Netherland, that none of those in any way in bad 
odor, considers his property secure. Were the noise thereof confined exclusively 
to the country, it were well ; but he has spread it himself, throughout the 
neighboring English, both north and south, even to the West Indies and 
Caribbee Islands; everywhere there is such evil report, that not a ship dare 
venture here from those parts. Worthy and reliable people who come thence 
here by way of Boston, and others trading hence to Boston, assure us that more 
than 25 ships would come annually here from the Islands, were they not afraid 
of confiscation. This refers only to these places ; the same report flies all over, 
and carries similar terror, so that this Vulture is sorely destructive of the prosperity Knmor or C onfl»ca- 

r r J tion eauoesmuch in- 

of New Netherland ; it diverts trade and renders the people discontented ; for -[^J and i " er " 

other places, not so convenient as this, have more shipping. All permanent 

inhabitants, whether merchant, burgher, farmer, planter, working man or servant, 

suffer great damage in consequence; for were there plenty of shipping here, piemy or shipping 

everything would be cheaper, and necessaries more easily obtained than now; n "'" ;8guud lr " d " - 

whether goods or articles which the people themselves get through God's blessing, 

out of the earth, or otherwise raise, they would meet a more ready and a more 

profitable demand. People and privileges create trade. New England and 

Virginia especially, afford a clear example that this policy causes prosperity. Now 

all the debts and claims are called in which Director Kieft left uncollected, and 

which were due for the most part by poor and impoverished people, who 

commenced with nothing and who lost their savings in the war, by which they 

were compelled to (44) abandon their houses, lands, cattle, and other means; 

and when they pleaded, that they were unable to pay — that they had lost their all 

by the war ; that Master would please only to have patience — they were repulsed, 

and the resolution thereupon adopted and indeed put into execution, to the effect 

that those who do not discharge the claims of the Company, must pay the interest, The Director cans 

. , tiii • j • 311 1 ■ , in the debts, even 

notwithstanding the debts were incurred in and by the war, and the people are th.«- contracted m 

J ' r the war; an.l will 

unable to pay either principal or interest. Again, he will not pay the just debts n "' allow an y J u " 
which Director Kieft hath left behind on the Company's account, whether 
consisting of earned monthly wages, delivered grain, or any other lawfully proved 
liabilities; and when we object to this, that it is identically the same, people 
growl and will have it so. We have by petition and remonstrance so far 
succeeded, that the collection of the debts is postponed for a time. 

In addition, the Company's land is so burdened, taxed and kept down, that the 
inhabitants are unable to compete with their neighbors of Virginia or New 
England, or to undertake anything. It appears, and all the inhabitants of 
New Netherland, as far as our knowledge extends, believe, that the Directors in The nirectors in 

Holland carv nolh- 

Holland pay no heed or attention to New Netherland, except when something is in e f " r N Nelh r - 

r J r o jand except to re- 

to be received from it, which is a reason that less is received by them. The c '" e 6om " duli<:8- 
extreme distress of war which has prevailed here, clearly demonstrates that they 

Vol. I. 40 



314 NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

never inquired whether New Netherland sank or swam ; for when application 
was made to them in such emergency for aid and assistance, which they were 
bound by honor and by promise according to the Exemptions to furnish, unasked, 
they never attempted to do anything in the case at their own expense. We let 
the expense go. They never caused any good order or regulation to be adopted 
in the matter, although such had been beneficently ordered and recommended by 
your High Mightinesses. They never even authorized an investigation to be 
made into the causes and true origin of the war, or attempted to punish those 
S'uf'ih'e 'Sag™ wn0 nac l rashly commenced it. Hence no little suspicion attaches to their order 
mem onhe war. concerning it; 'tis certain, at least, that their officers were chosen more from 
favor and friendship, than from merit; this does not improve their affairs, but it 
is for the most part the stockholders' damage and loss. Many of the others 
doubtless understood their designs. In fine, they fall far too short in the 
protection they owe the country, for it bears no resemblance to it. Yet they 
Trade i» heavily knowwell how to increase the public burdens, for in the instances in the 

taxed and this must r 

belaid bythepeo- Exemptions, in which they promise not to exceed 5 per cent, they now exact 16. 

'Tis an old saying, he scrapes a good deal who scrapes half, but it does not reach 

that far. The excuses and evasions they have recourse to, as regards merchandise, 

smuggling, &c, which time has taught them in order to give a coloring to their acts, 

are of no value nor consideration, for there is nothing in them to be refuted: but 

too much of this. Meanwhile, we shall be ready to do so, if necessity require. 

There are more of these and innumerable other impositions, which we cannot 

detail, though (45) tending to the damage, injury and ruin of the country. When 

the inhabitants or we, go to the Director or other of the Company's officers, and 

represent the prosperity of our neighbors, and complain of our own desolate 

and ruinous condition, we get no other answer from them than that they 

effectually see and observe it, but cannot, nevertheless, redress it ; for they obey 

we° winT'an'lhm'' ant ^ must adhere to the Company's orders, and if we have anything to say, we 

their "High Might!* must petition their masters, the Company, or your High Mightinesses, which we 

pa"" ° r ' e ° m " also have considered, in truth and in deed to be necessary. It is now more than 

a year since the select men concluded and considered it proper to send a deputation 

to your High Mightinesses. The Director approved it, and not only assented to 

The reiniution as to it, but strongly urged it also. It was well advanced in the mill, so that already 

a delegation ap- ' o J o J 

rlaor 1 bJ "" Di " mention began to be made of a delegate, but, however, nothing came of it. 
For this reason: When a commencement was about to bemade, the Director 
required that the proceedings should be according to his pleasure, and to this 
some who perceived the object, would not consent ; the affair went to sleep in 
consequence. In addition to this, the English, on whom reliance had been 
placed, and who were associated in this business, withdrew from it at the 
time when the affair began to be more urgent, and the Nine men were changed 

Bhmeaant enconr- the following year, when Mr. Stuyvesant again urged the matter strongly, and 

ages the seoding the O J ' J O O OJ' 

deputation. declared that he had already written to inform the Company that some persons 

were about to come over. After the election, then, and before the new 
incumbents were sworn, it was verbally, or orally resolved and concluded, that 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: IV. 315 

the deputation should be proceeded with, whatever the consequences. Some time 
elapsed before the Nine men were sworn in anew, on account of some enlargement 
of the commission, which was at last issued, recorded and signed ; but we have 
never been able to obtain an authentic transcript of it, though the Director 
frequently promised it to us, and we have frequently applied for it. 

As people had long waited in vain for the action of the Company which, from Final Resolution for 

' J the delegation to 

time to time, promised improvement but made things worse, the Select men tlieir ll, s h Mi e^- 

adopted a resolution to delegate some persons ; this they sent to the Director and 

requested permission to speak to the Commonalty on the subject; but their 

proposition was not well received and a very long postil was annexed to their 

written petition to the effect that they must act conjointly with, and follow the The 8elecl M p n 
1 j j j amft not conf( , r 

order of, the Director with many other things which scarcely accorded with our w " h lh ° • ,eo P |e - 

design, and were, in our opinion, impracticable. For various reasons, which we 

have set forth in writing, we considered it inexpedient to act conjointly, but 

we offered his Honor, if he would permit us to proceed, we should not send any 

thing to Fatherland without furnishing him a copy of it ; we should be very glad if 

he could, then, vindicate himself, but to follow his directions in this matter seemed 

to us not to be founded in reason, but was in direct opposition to the welfare of 

the country. Besides, we had never promised nor agreed to do so, and were 

bound by oath to seek, the prosperity of the country, as we have always been 

disposed to do, according to the best of our knowledge. 

(46) It is stated in the postil above mentioned, if we read it aright, that we Postiiof the Direc- 

shall inquire how far the people would cooperate with us in this business, and 

how the expense should be defrayed, but the Director explained it differently from 

what we understood It. Now, as the Director would not convene the Commonalty, 

as we proposed, nor allow us to do so, we went around from house to house, and 

spoke to the people. From this time forward the General burned with rage, 

and in our opinion has never been effectually appeased since, although we were 

not aware but that we had obeyed his order in the premises. However, it was The Director . 

concluded that the Nine Men should not act in conjunction with him, nor follow his °eeaue 8 his direc- 
tions are not follow- 

directions in what appertained to the matter, and that excited in his breast a bitter ed - 

and irreconcilable hatred against them all, but principally against those whom 

he presumed were the chief originators of it. And although these persons had 

always been his good and cherished friends, and he had even a short time before, 

esteemed them the honestest most capable, most intelligent and most virtuous of 

the country, 1 yet as soon as they did not follow his wishes, they were this and 

that, some of them rascals, liars, rebels, usurers; in a word, hanging was almost 

too good for them. Heretofore, the expediting the deputation had been earnestly 

pressed ; now, it was time enough six months hence, and a sheet of paper could 

contain all that was proper or necessary to be stated. Various reports were also various efforts 

n ji i 1 zfi J '-lii 11 made to divert the 

set afloat among the people, and an ettort was made, principally through the Board from in pur- 
English, to nullify the Board of Nine Men; but all these underhand intrigues 

1 The words of tlieir Commission. — Ed. 



316 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

were discovered, and when it was perceived that this labor would be vain, an 
attempt was made to create a diversion by instituting personal actions against 
some who were considered the bell-wethers. 1 Accusations were made 
against them and they were prosecuted by the Fiscal and the other subordinate 
officers, who made them out to be about the biggest villains in the country, where 
they had shortly before been recognized as the best of persons and most deserving 
children. To accomplish that, an opportunity now offered which (to use the 
Director's own words) was as precious to him as his own life. In the beginning 
of the year 1G49, we clearly saw and perceived that not only should we have 
considerable to do as regarded the delegation, but that we should with difficulty 
accomplish it; we therefore considered it necessary to make out a series of 

or the Rough notea. memoranda in order to draw up a proper Journal from them, when occasion 
allowed. This task devolved on one Adriaen Van der Donck who, according to 
a resolution which was adopted at the same time, was lodged in a room in one 

The notes seized Michiel Janss' house. One day when Van der Donck was abroad, the General 

arrested. seized this rough draft with his own hand, placed Van der Donck the day following 

under arrest, convened the Supreme Council, accused him of having committed 
Crimen lesa? Majestatis, and took the matter so seriously that scarcely anything 
was to be done — either the delegation must be a joint one, and then (-47) it 
remained still to be arranged — or sufficient cause of action was furnished by the 
Journal, as the gentleman designated the rough notes from which the journal was 
to be prepared ; "for," said he, "it contains gross slanders against their High 
Mightinesses." And when we would explain it, and requested the draft in order 
to correct it, as the writer would not insist upon it, but admitted he was fully 
aware that there were mistakes in it, in consequence of hurry and similar causes, 
as he had a great deal to do and the most part of it was not revised ; our 
petition was designated a libel, unworthy of any answer, the writer of which 
would be punished as an example to others. In fine, we could not, in any way, 

whatever was pro- manage to make it right. Vander Donck was forbad the Council and our Sessions 

R"received h^uie also, and we were notified officially of the circumstance ; yet, he could not get 
a release from his oath, and in order to cut off the proper means of proof, a 

writing forbidden, prohibitory notice was issued to the effect that no testimony nor other document 
should be valid, except those written by the Secretary. This was of no service 
to any person, and it was a general complaint that no business could be got 
forward. Director Kieft did the self-same thing when he was apprehensive that 
complaints would be got up against him. And this is their usual course, to do 
everything they can think of to uphold their acts. Those who were officially 
obliged to take a part in public affairs and did so, were fortunate if they acted 
in accordance with the General's will and pleasure; if they did not, they were 

Those who speak prosecuted and sued, incarcerated, guarded by soldiers, so that no person might 

for the Country are r to 

treated very badiy. S p ea ^ to them, angrily abused as all sorts of dangerous monsters, threatened to 
be taught this and that and everything was done, and recourse had to every 
expedient that could be invented or ripped up against them. We cannot dwell 

1 Some legal proceedings were instituted against Van der Donck. — Ed. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: IV. 317 

long on this, but refer to the Journal kept of it, and to the writing which the 
Director himself will furnish. Your High Mightinesses, and such other friends 
as happen to see it, can easily infer, from the preceding Relation, what trouble 
and labor we have had on our shoulders, with which we would have most 
willingly dispensed, had it not been for the love of the country and of the truth, 
which, as far as we know, hath Ions' lain in the grave. The trouble and difficultv, The truth regarding 

° ° J ' New Ni'tlierlund 

though wanting no addition, have not wearied us, or rather, will not be to us lon e concealed, 
so great a source of grief as is the sorrowful condition of New Netherland, now 
lying at its last gasp. But we hope and trust that our affliction and the 
sufferings of the inhabitants and people of the country, will excite commisseration 
in your High Mightinesses, in order that New Netherland may rejoice. 



( 48 ) IN WHAT MANNER NEW NETHERLAND SHOULD BE RELIEVED. 

Although we are satisfied and fully aware, that, as respects public reforms, we 
are but as children, and that your High Mightinesses are fully competent in the 
case, yet we beseech you to pardon and excuse us, if we, according to our 
humble conception thereof, make a few suggestions in addition to what we have 
already considered, in our petition to your High Mightinesses, to be necessary. 

In our opinion this country will never flourish under the Hon ble Company's 
government ; on the contrary 'twill waste and decay in itself, unless the 
Company be, in consequence, reformed. It would, therefore, be better and more 
advantageous for the country and themselves were they rid of it and the remnant 
of their property transported hence. 

To speak specifically : care ought to be taken of the public property, both 
ecclesiastical and civil, which in the beginning can illy be spared or dispensed 
with. It is doubtful but Divine Worship must be entirely intermitted in 
consequence of the Clergyman's departure, and the Company's inability. There 
ought to be also a Public school provided with at least two good teachers, so that 
the youth, in so wild a country, where there are so many dissolute people, may, 
first of all, be well instructed and indoctrinated not only in reading and 
writing, but also in the knowledge and fear of the Lord. Now, the school is 
kept very irregularly, by this one or that, according to his fancy, as long as he 
thinks proper. There ought to be, likewise, Asylums for aged men, for orphans, 
and similar institutions. The clergyman who now returns home, could give 
fuller information on the subject. The country must also be provided with moral, 
honorable and intelligent rules who are not very indigent nor yet very covetous. 
A covetous ruler makes poor subjects, and the mode in which the country is 
now governed, is a great affliction and not to be tolerated ; for no one is 
unmolested nor secure in his property any longer than the Director pleases, 



318 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

who is generally very prone to confiscation. And though men act fairly and 
give him his due, yet it is necessary still to continue to please him, if one would 
have quietness. Good population should follow good government, as we have 
demonstrated, according to our ability, in our petition. And although free 
passages and the fitting out of ships, were such requisite, would, at first, 
cause expense, yet when the result is considered, such an outlay would be 
immeasurably well employed, if farmers and laborers with other people in 
straitened circumstances, of whom Fatherland has plenty to spare, were by that 
means introduced with what little they may have, into the country. We hope 
it would then prosper, especially had it, what we consider to be the mother of 
population, good (49) Privileges and Exemptions, which could encourage the 
inhabitants; attract navigation and profitable trade, and with the pleasantness, 
convenience, salubrity and productiveness of the country, allure everyone hither. 
If a Boundary were added in the protection, to what has been already done, then 
with God's help everything would, in human probability, go well, and New 
Netherland could be, in a short time, a brave place, able, also, to be of service 
to the Netherland State, to richly repay expended outlays and to thank her 
benefactors. 

High and Mighty Lords ! We have taken the liberty to write this 
Remonstrance, and to submit the case as we have done, through love of the 
truth, and because we have felt bound to do so by our oath and conscience. 
It is true that all of us, either together or individually, have not seen, heard or 
had a knowledge of the entire contents in every particular; nevertheless it 
contains nothing but what some among us well know to be true and credible. 
We all know the greatest part of it to be truth ; some are acquainted with 
the remainder of it, and have also heard it from trustworthy persons, and 
sincerely believe it to be wholly true. We hope your High Mightinesses will 
pardon our presumption, and be indulgent to our plainness of style, composition 
and method. In conclusion, we commit your High Mightinesses' persons, 
deliberations and measures with your people both at home and abroad, together 
with all friends of New Netherland, to the merciful guidance and protection 
of the Most High, whom we supplicate to grant prosperity to your High 
Mightinesses in time and eternity. Amen. 

Done this XXVIII July, in New Netherland, 1649. 

(Signed) Adriaen van der Donck, Augustyn Harman, Arnoldus van 
Hardenbergh, Jacob van Couwenhoven, Oloff Stevens, (beside whose name is written) 
" under protest. Obliged to sign as to the Heer Kieft's administration." Michiel 
Janss. Thomas Hall, Elbert Elberts, Govert Lokermans, Hendrick Hendrixs Kip 
and Jan Everts Bout. 

(Underneath stood) 

After collating with the Original Remonstrance dated and subscribed as above, 
this is found to agree with it, at the Hague the 13th October 1649 by me. 

(Signed) D. V. Schelluyne, Not. Pub. 

1649. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: IV. 319 

Vice -Director Dincklagen to the States General. 

[ From the Original in the Royal Archives at Che Hague ; File, West Indie. ] 

Great and Mighty Sovereigns. 

Whereas the condition of that most fertile New Netherland is seriously impaired by the 
war, and the Commonalty hath resolved on a delegation of three of the Nine Selectmen, in 
order that your High Mightinesses may obtain full and thorough information on every point, I 
have not been able to dissuade them therefrom. I cannot say but they intend what is right. 
These persons are thoroughly conversant with the situation of the country. I hope your High 
Mightinesses will be pleased thereby and extend to them a favorable audience, and give them 
despatch as soon as your High Mightinesses' more weighty affairs will permit, as the people 
will be very anxious. 

God preserve your High Mightinesses in continued health and prosperous government. 

Your High Mightinesses' 
At the Manhatans Most obedient humble servant, 

in New Netherland, (Signed) Lubberthus van Dincklaghe, 

the 12 th August, 1649. Vice-Director of New Netherland. 

Received 13" 1 October, 1649. 
(Addressed) 

To the High and Mighty Lords, States General 

of the 
United Netherlands, &c, 
in 

The Hague. 



Resolution of the States General on the preceding Papers. 

[ From the Register of West India Affairs, 1638—1651, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Wednesday, 13 lh October, 1649. 
Foiio 498. Received a letter from the Commonalty, in New Netherland, written in New 

Commonalty in it,i^»»i », t , , • i- 

New Netherland. Amsterdam, on the Island of Manhatans, the 26 <h July last, setting forth, in 
substance, that they had concluded to depute hither, of their number, Adriaen van der Donck, 
Jacob van Couwenhoven and Jan Everts Bout, for the purpose of representing to their High 
Lubbertus Tan Mightinesses the state and condition of affairs. Received, also, a letter from 
Lubbertus van Dincklage, Vice-Director in New Netherland, written at the 
Manhatans the 12 th August, ultimo. Likewise, read a petition of the aforesaid three deputed 
persons, wherein they pray their High Mightinesses to be pleased to appoint some gentlemen 
from their midst in order that they may furnish some further information respecting the 
condition and state of the aforesaid affairs in the abovenamed New Netherland. Whereupon 
deliberation beiug had, it is resolved and concluded, that the aforesaid letter and petition be 



320 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

placed in the hands of Messrs. Huygens and the other, their High Mightinesses' Deputies for 
the affairs of the West India Company, for inspection, who are to examine and hear the 
aforesaid delegates and to make a report of the result and issue thereof. 



Resolution of the States General on a Petition of the Guardians of Johannes van 

Renselaer. 

[ From the Register of West India Affairs, 163S— 1651, in the Koyal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Thursday, 14 October, 1649. 
roiio 498. The petition of Johan van Wely and Wouter van T wilier, both guardians of 

Twuiw^Biommlert Johan Renselaer, against Samuel Blommaert and Johannes de Laet, cum sociis, 
andDeLaet. being read in the Assembly, it is, after previous consideration, resolved and 

concluded, that the aforesaid petition be placed in the hands of the opposite party in order to 
answer thereunto as to the same may appertain. 



Resolution of the States General on a Petition of Messrs. Blommaert and De Laet. 

[ From the Eegister of West India Affairs, 1638—1651, in the Eoyal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Friday, 5 November, 1649. 
Foi. 502. rphg petition of Samuel Blommaert and Johannes de Laet, cum sociis, against 

Blommaert and De r 1 

Laet, cum sociis j ari van Welv and Wouter van Twyler, both Guardians of Jan van Renselaer, 

aeainst Jan van J J 

vln^Twyier^hom respecting a certain Colonie in New Netherland, being read in the Assembly, it 
vi U n a i:enseiaer! ohaQ is, after previous consideration, resolved and concluded, hereby, to order and 
enjoin parties, on both sides, to furnish their respective papers within the term of eight days, 
after service hereof, to their High Mightinesses' deputies for the purpose of examining the 
matters aforesaid, in order, such being done, their High Mightinesses may then make further 
disposition in the premises. 



Resolution of the States General on a Petition of the Guardians of Johannes van 

Renselaer. 

[ From the Register of West India Affairs, 163S — 1651, in the Royal Archives at the Hague.] 

Saturday, 13 November, 1649. 
Folio 506. ^ certain further petition of the Guardians of Johan van Renselaer, minor son 

"r r ReZia! ! r. ohan of KUiaen van Renselaer, regarding a certain Colonie on the North River of New 
certain ooiouie. Netherland, being read in the Assembly, it is, upon consideration, resolved and 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: IV. 321 

concluded that the aforesaid petition be sent to the Assembly of the Nineteen of the West India 
Company at Amsterdam, with request and order that they shall, pursuant to their High 
Mightinesses' letters of the 22 Octo b 164S and 26 April last, again answer whether they have 
any valid reasons against the request contained in the petitioners' two distinct petitions and 
communicated to them, and if so, to send the same hither, and give information in the premises 
without being any longer in default, on pain of judgment. 



Director Stuyvesanf, to the States General. 

[ From the Original in the Royal Archives at the Hague; Zoketkas of the States General ; Rubric West Indische Compagnie, No. 30; 6th division 

of the Bundle. ] 

Right Honorable, High and Mighty Lords. 

My Lords. 

I duly received your High Mightinesses' letter dated 28' h April, by Cornelis Melyn, who 
has been, on his humble petition, graciously relieved by your High Mightinesses of the 
sentence pronounced against him by us and our council on the FiscaPs complaint, prosecution 
and proof. But the appellant to your High Mightinesses, meeting no party nor defence, the 
papers and documents in support of the sentence having been lost with the ship the Princess, 
we, therefore, thankfully acknowledge the prudence of your High Mightinesses, who have, 
with the one ear received the appellant in the case of appeal with inhibitory clause, and kept 
the other ear open for us. We have, therefore, pursuant to your High Mightinesses' 
resolutions and letters, allowed the exonerated appellant to enjoy, unmolested, undisturbed 
and in peace, the full effect of your High Mightinesses' despatch ; which we shall, also, 
consequently, continue to obey until your High Mightinesses will proceed, with your 
accustomed wisdom, to the confirmation or reversal of the sentence, hoping to maintain the 
same before your High Mightinesses by conclusive arguments. Yet we would, nevertheless, 
desire, and would have been glad to see that with the annulling and untimely extinction of 
the (opposite) party, before he could have defended himself, party strifes had remained 
extinguished and annihilated. But Melyn, the aforesaid appellant, finding himself sustained 
by writ of mandamus in addition to your High Mightinesses' letters, hath, previous to his 
return, and constantly since, caused us no inconsiderable uneasiness and trouble, both by 
giving communication of those papers, and construing their tenor much more liberally than 
your High Mightinesses' intention and meaning justified. For, besides running through New 
England among the English people (who are not very friendly to us and our Nation here on 
account of old boundary requisitions and claims) proclaiming and parading your High 
Mightinesses' aforesaid writ of mandamus and public letters, and His Serene Highness' passports, 
even before they were communicated to us, to the scandal of both and to our disparagement, 
he greatly discredited the Hon ble Company to the English, as if it were bankrupt, and 
in no repute with your High Mightinesses. He reported, also, among other things, in order 
to render this government odious among the English (as letters of advice and the declaration 
of passengers state), that he was empowered by your High Mightinesses to send me a prisoner 
Vol. I. 41 



322 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

to Holland; that your High Mightinesses greatly wondered that those of New England did 
not dra" me to, and hang me on, the highest tree for having caused the yacht St. Beninjo 
to be cut out of their waters, and that we had applied to your High Mightinesses for seven to 
eio-ht hundred soldiers in order to make war on the people of New England. The tendency 
of these and similar reports, with the exhibition of the writs of mandamus dragged through 
the mud amongst a people who, on the score of possession, are indifferently disposed towards 
us, we respectfully recommend to your High Mightinesses' prudence and wise consideration, 
assured that the falsehood of the exonerated individual, in all this matter, will be fully exposed. 
Should he, contrary to public report and advisory letters, deny this to your High Mightinesses, 
his previous words and deeds in Mr. Kiefl's time — the mutinous and insulting service of the 
mandamus on us publicly in the church on the S lh of March, in presence of the entire 
population of the Manhatans and adjacent villages, then assembled on the public affairs of 
the country, who, therefore, adjourned, leaving the business untransacted, to the great 
disparagement of authority and of our commission, and so shaped that massacre and bloodshed 
might have been the result, had we not converted ourselves from the highest to the lowest, 
and permitted the indecent service of the summons — Nay, ere we could draw up an answer, 
he handed in his unfounded demand, in writing, on the 20 lb of the same month, and renewed 
it on the 2S lb of June — his illegal practice of collecting frivolous and secret certificates — his 
reports, authenticated in our presence and that of the Council, that the Hon ble Company was 
bankrupt — that your High Mightinesses had spoken very contemptuously of the Board of 
Directors, as being unworthy or unfit to govern your High Mightinesses' possessions — that 
the supreme and secret Council of Brazil were imprisoned and had sent little bags with 
thousands of pistoles to this one and that of your High Mightinesses — these and similar 
disparaging, insulting acts and expressions, seen and heard by myself and many others, give a 
semblance of truth to the public reports and advices from New England. In order to avoid 
wearying your High Mightinesses' patience by an unreasonably long letter, we shall not 
enlarge any further upon this point, the more especially as it hath little or no reference to the 
subject matter and reported sentence. It is not brought forward with that design, but merely 
in order to exhibit to your High Mightinesses the aforesaid person's disposition, and how 
mischievous [he is] in so rude a province. 

Right Honorable, High and Mighty Lords. In all humble reverence, it had been more 
advantageous and honorable for me never to have been favored with your High Mightinesses' 
Commission, or never to have sworn before your High Mightinesses to administer both criminal 
and civil law and justice, than pending your High Mightinesses' Commission and our recorded 
oath, to be, on a simple petition, so disparaged by neighbors and subjects, and so disavowed 
to the degradation of justice, of authority, and of our granted Commission, even before parties had 
argued, much less concluded the case before your High Mightinesses. We submit ourselves 
in all humble obedience to your High Mightinesses' righteous judgment and strict justice, in 
case we can be convinced with reason and truth, that we have committed or done anything 
contrary to the common weal, either of beloved and worthy Fatherland, or of this Province, 
or its inhabitants, or to the prejudice and disrepute of your High Mightinesses' sovereign 
authority. We bow before God's Omniscience and your High Mightinesses' judgment in case 
it be shown and proved, that we, in or regarding the pronounced sentence, were impregnated 
with any sinister motive, passion or favor. Whoso acquits the wicked and condemns the 
righteous man, is equally an abomination to the Lord. We have reconsidered the proofs, and 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: IV. 323 

as far as our knowledge permits, have given our opinion thereupon conformably to Divine 
and human laws; if we have erred in the application or explication of them, we submit 
ourselves to your High Mightinesses' wiser judgment, and to Justinian's memorable saying — 
Omnia sapere et in nullo penitut peccare plus deitatis quam humanitatis est. 

Passing by the falsehoods introduced from the appellant's complaints into the writ of 
Mandamus, we remark that we are thereby summoned to appear before your High Mightinesses 
either in person or by Attorney, at the proper day, or to revoke the sentence. The last we 
cannot do consistently with honor and oath, and the right of the successful party. In the first, 
we should willingly obey your High Mightinesses' intention and meaning, had it pleased your 
High Mightinesses and the Hon ble Directors to discharge and release me from the oath whereby 
I have bound myself at your hands to this service and government. Although no messenger 
is better than the person himself, it is necessary, for reasons aforesaid, and in consequence of 
the troubles and dissentions which have arisen and been fomented here from time to time, 
since the arrival of the aforesaid person, to send an attorney, and thereunto to request and 
empower our Secretary, Cornelis Van Tienhoven, with procuration and authority to substitute 
such advocate, or attorney and lawyer, as he shall deem expedient for the better dispatch of 
business. We shall only request and pray your High Mightinesses, with all respect, to grant 
credit and a hearing to the aforesaid, our agent, or whomsoever he shall substitute ; and among 
other weighty and important business to be pleased to esteem, as recommended our granted 
commission and authority, and to protect these so far as righteousness permits. For, through 
the disparaging and false reports of the relieved appellant, and the insulting service of the 
Mandamus, the authority and respect of your High Mightinesses' Commission and our quality, 
have been so degraded, impaired and trodden under foot, that to our shame, the administration 
of justice and the performance of our duty, have thereby suffered shipwreck. This cannot be 
repaired save by your High Mightinesses' just support. We call God to witness our sincerity, 
that we have never, knowingly or willfully, intended injury or wrong to any man; but a 
peaceable and God-acceptable government to be vindicated before your High Mightinesses. In 
the meanwhile we apprehend, that this indecent service of summons will have the effect of 
withdrawing your High Mightinesses' attention from more important affairs, and of calling 
forth many complaints, solicitations and appeals, now and henceforth from this and other 
distant places ; even to the degree that it will not be possible to pronounce a definitive 
judgment here, from which the losing party, either through hatred of the judge, in order to 
insult him, or through the persuasion of others and to create delay, will not claim and demand 
an appeal. Your High Mightinesses will please excuse one word — It is, as far as I know, a 
case without example, that an inferior judge, deciding the law according to the best of his 
knowledge in private cases, whether of debt or damage, should be sued or called on for 
restitution of money, instead of the gaining party. But, in order not to interrupt too much 
your High Mightinesses' important deliberations on higher and weightier matters, we will not 
enlarge farther in this affair, but leave the result commended to God and your far-seeing 
judgment; only observing to your High Mightinesses before concluding, that the sentence 
pronounced against the appellant Melyn, was, as appears by its tenor, not directed so much 
against the remonstrance on the subject of the war and public affairs, as against particular 
insulting libels on, and opposition to his lawful Superior. 

Duty should oblige us to annex hereunto the situation and condition of public affairs here, 
and the necessity of promoting the boundary line, population, the establishment of firm 



324 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

privileges and the sending hither of a reinforcement of soldiers for the maintenance of 
possession and authority against the perversity of the Natives. This, with all respect, we 
refer to the verhal information and reports of the bearer hereof, our Secretary. For which 
purpose we have also furnished him, by way of reminder, with copy of our previously drafted 
opinions, and with an abstract hereof. 

Wherewith ending, we commend your High Mightinesses and the rest of your subjects to 
the merciful protection of the Most High, We pray the Triune God for your long and 
prosperous government, and are and remain, meanwhile, 

Your High Mightinesses' 
Manhattans the Humble and Obedient Servant, 

10 lb of August, 1649. Signed, P. Stuyvesant. 

Received 26 th Novemb r , 1649. 



Resolution of the States General on the preceding Letter. 

[From the Register of West India Affairs, 1638 — 1651, in the Royal Archives'at the Hague ] 

Friday, 26th November, 1649. 

Foiiosio. Received a letter from Commander Stuyvesant, in New Netherland, written at 

cnmminder stay- Manhatans the 10 lb of August last, respecting the case entered and instituted 
comeiis Meiyn. nere before their High Mightinesses by Cornelis Melyn against the abovenamed 
Commander. Whereupon deliberation being had, it is resolved and concluded that the 
aforesaid letter be placed in the hands of Messrs. Huygens and other their High Mightinesses' 
previously appointed deputies for the affairs of the West India Company, for inspection and 
examination, and to report thereon. 



Resolution of the States General on a Petition of Secretary van Tienhoven. 

[ From the Register of West India Affairs, 1688 — 1651, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Thursday, 2d December, 1649. 
Folio 5ii. On petition presented to their High Mightinesses in the name and on the 

Cornells van Tien- behalf of Cornells van Tienhoven, Secretary of New Netherland, as attorney of 
New Netnerhind ° the Director and Council over that country, it is, after previous deliberation, 
hereby resolved and concluded to declare that the petitioner shall have to proceed in the 
matter in appeal according to the mode usually followed therein. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: IV. 325 

Resolution of the States General on a Petition of the Guardians of Johannes van 

Rensselaer. 

[From the Register of West India Affairs, 1638 — 1651, in the Royal Archives at the Hague.] 

Monday, 13th December, 1649. 

Foiio sis. Read in the Assembly a certain other petition of the guardians of Johan van 

Renseiaer. Renselaer, minor son of Kiliaen van Renselaer, again praying their High 

Mightinesses to be pleased to dispose of their, the petitioners', previous petition respecting the 
solicited investiture of the Colonie Renselaer's Wyck, in New Netherland, and the violence 
which Director Stuyvesant is committing against them. Whereupon deliberation being 
had, it is resolved and concluded, to place the aforesaid petition in the hands of Messrs. 
Huygens and the other, their High Mightinesses' deputies for the affairs of the West India 
Company, for inspection, examination and conference with the Directors of said West 
India Company, at present here, and to report on the whole subject. 



Answer of Secretary van Tienhoven to Cornelis Melyri's Complaint. 

[From the Original in the Boyal Archieves at the Hague ; Locketkas of the States G eneral ; Division West Indtiche, C&mpagnU No. 25.] 

[L. S.] 

To the High and Mighty Lords States General of the United Netherlands: 

Cornelis van Tienhoven, specially empowered by the Director and Council of New 
Netherland to maintain before your High Mightinesses, in their name, a certain penal judgment 
pronounced, on the 17th July, 1647, by the aforesaid Director and his Council against the said 
Cornelis Melyn, having had communication of a certain petition and its annexed documents 
referred by your High Mightinesses' order to him, Tienhoven, to answer thereunto ; in which 
petition the aforesaid Melyn, after a very impertinent and particularly false narrative, simply 
requests of your High Mightinesses in substance, inasmuch as your High Mightinesses have 
been pleased to admit him in appeal from the judgment aforesaid and as the. said Cornelis van 
Tienhoven had come over to this country and was residing at the Hague for the purpose of 
defending the same on behalf of the abovementioned Director and Council, that your High 
Mightinesses would be pleased to assign the said Tienhoven time and place for him to make 
his appearance and to take cognizance of such demand and conclusion as he, Melyn, should 
present and take against the aforesaid van Tienhoven, in his aforesaid quality. 

In order to answer the said petition, the aforesaid Tienhoven says, not only that he does not 
assent to the said presented petition, but also even that a request has been already presented 
by him to your High Mightinesses to the same effect, which is therefore again hereby voluntarily 
renewed, that an early precise day may be appointed by your High Mightinesses on which the 
aforesaid Cornelis Melyn, the Appellant in the aforesaid case, shall be ordered to institute his 
action without delay in order that the Respondent may except to, or answer the same, to be 



326 NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

further respectively replied and rejoined to, according as the merits of the case shall be found to 
demand ; or in default thereof, that parties shall on the day aforesaid, be mutually at liberty 
to demand such advantage as, according to custom and rule, the party in attendance usually 
obtains against the party in default. And that the proceedings herein may be in the ordinary 
style usually followed in cases in appeal, agreeably to your High Mightinesses' resolution, dated 
the 2d December 1G49. 
Which doing, etc. 

Endorsed : — 

Cornells van Tienhoven's rescript. 



Resolution of the States General on the above. 

[From the Register of West India Affairs, 163S— 1651, in the Royal Archleves at the Hague.] 

Monday, 13 December 1649. 
roiio 5U. Read in the Assembly a certain petition of Cornelis van Thienhoven, Secretary 

h"v"o' sl '" of the Director and Council of New Netherland setting forth in substance that he 

New Netheriand. na t H com e hither by order of the abovenamed Director, pursuant to the tenor 
of the writ of mandamus in case of appeal, granted to Cornelis Melyn by their High Mightinesses 
on the 2Sth April 1048, praying to be informed how and in what manner the proceedings therein 
will be commenced and completed. Whereupon deliberation being had, it is resolved and 
concluded that the aforesaid petition shall be referred to Messrs. Huygens and other their High 
Mightinesses' deputies for the affairs of the West India Company for inspection, consideration 
and examination of the retro acta, and to confer thereupon with the Directors of the West India 
Company here, and to report on the whole subject to their High Mightinesses. 



Petition of Joost Teunissen. 

[ From the Original In the Royal Archives at the Hague ; file West Indie. ] 

To the High and Mighty Lords, the Lords States General of the United Netherlands. 

High and Mighty Lords. 

Joost Teunissen, baker, burgher and inhabitant of New Netherland, most respectfully 
represents that he, the petitioner, was on the 22 nd May, Anno 1648, nine days before 
Whitsuntide, cast into prison by order of Director Stuyvesant, without the presence or 
attendance of the Fiscal and without the knowledge even of the Council, and that he, the 
petitioner, was accused with having sent to Fort Orange, powder, lead and guns, which articles 
were afterwards effectually sold to the Indiana. Whereupon the Director threatened to cause 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: IV. 327 

him, the petitioner, to be subjected to torture, to which intent he had his, the petitioner's 
house, twice searched by the entire Council, himself also overhauling all the barrels, bales, 
cases, corners, stores, etc., the petitioner remaining meanwhile, for the space of thirteen long 
days, in the aforesaid close confinement at the gate, and in the place where felons deserving 
death are usually imprisoned, without any one, even his own wife, being admitted to him, or 
to have any, the least communication with him ; and when, after minute search, nothing was 
discovered whereupon the fiscal could institute proceedings against the petitioner, and detain 
him on suspicion, he is finally released, on the iterated request of good friends, on condition 
of giving Isaacq Foreest and Sibout Claessen as bail, to answer whatever the Fiscal might from 
time to time deem proper to institute against the petitioner ; and after the petitioner was kept 
for the space of more than a year and a day in rcatu, nothing meanwhile being produced 
against the petitioner, and the securities demanded to be discharged, he, the petitioner, was 
obliged to apply to the Nine Men, requesting them to intercede for him, that his case may be 
taken up or his bail discharged, which they did. But Stuyvesant would not condescend to 
answer the written petition of the Nine Men. The petitioner consequently, presented a 
petition in his own name, which he would not once notice, wherefore the petitioner presented 
another request, copy whereof is hereunto annexed. To this it was answered on the margin 
that it must be communicated to the Fiscal, which having been done, the Fiscal replied that 
he must have 5 to G months time for the purpose, as he knew nothing of the matter; this 
happened when the petitioner was on the point of leaving, for which he having asked 
permission, the Director refused to grant it, but the skipper connived at it, and consented to 
bring him along. It can be easily surmised, that the petitioner was obliged to depart for 
Patria, as he could not peaceably carry on his trade there, nor travel hither and thither through 
the country to purchase his wheat and grain, which his business required for bread for the use 
of the burghers, for, on twice applying to the Director for a pass, he was each time threatened 
by him with a caning, so that the petitioner, without effecting either the prosecution of his 
case, or the discharge of his bail, notwithstanding Sibout Claessen accompanied him, has been 
obliged to repair to Fatherland, and to cast himself in most humble obedience, into your High 
Mightinesses' righteous and compassionate arms, respectfully praying that you would be 
graciously pleased to make such provision that the Director, who is too powerful for your 
petitioner, may be estopped from giving him, the said petitioner, your High Mightinesses' 
subject, any further unjustifiable trouble; but that he maybe obliged to indemnify him, the 
petitioner, for the losses and damages he, the petitioner, hath suffered by his unlawful 
proceedings, and further allow him, the petitioner, to earn his living honestly and honorably 
for himself and family, both by his daily labor and trade, and to transact, unwatched, the 
business necessary thereunto. Wherefore the petitioner will respectfully await your High 

Mightinesses' favorable answer. 

Which doing, etc., 

Signed Joosx Teuniss. Baker. 
Read 13 ,h December, 1649. 



328 NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Appendix to the prectding Petition. 

To the Hon b,e Petrus Stuyvesant, Director of New Netherland, Curasao and dependencies 
thereof, and to the gentlemen of the Council. 

Joost Teunissen, baker, represents with all due respect to your honors, and humbly prays 
the Hon ble General and Council to be pleased to discharge him from the suit formerly instituted 
against him, and herein to release the bail, which falls very onerous on him; or in case the 
Fiscal is still inclined to maintain his pretension, the petitioner had wished, nay hoped, 
the case might have been long ago disposed of, and meanwhile, as prayed for in the last petition, 
he again requests that his case may be terminated and the bail discharged, so that he, the 
petitioner, may pursue his voyage to Patria unhindered, for which he humbly solicits your 
Honors' permission to depart in person in the Valckenier, as he otherwise, by being prevented, 
would suffer great loss. Awaiting hereunto a favorable answer, 

Remains your Honors' humble and obedient. 

Tn the margin was: — Copy of the answer given to Joost Teuniss, baker, on 26 July, 1649. 

These are to be communicated to the Fiscal, in order to prosecute the case. Ady 26' h July, 
1649. New Amsterdam in N. Netherland. 

Lower stood: By order of the Hon ble General and Council of New Netherland: Underneath 
was: Cornelis van Tienhoven, Secret: Still lower was: — Agrees with the original, which I 
certify. Signed A. Keyser. 

(Endorsed) 

Petition of Joost Teuniss, baker, burger in New Netherland, 
to their High Mightinesses, the Lords States General 
of the United Netherlands. 13 Decemb r 1649. 



Petition of Sibout Claessen to the States General. 

[ From the Original in tbe Royal Archives at the Hague; File, West Indie. ] 

To the High and Mighty Lords, the Lords States General of the United Netherlands. 

High and Mighty Lords. 

Sibout Claessen, house carpenter, burgher, and inhabitant of New Netherland, most 
respectfully represents, that he, having married Susanna Janss, at the time widow of Aert 
Teunissen, her previous husband, who had entered into a contract with Director Kieft to lease 
a certain bouwerie named Hoboquin, situate in Pavonia on the west side of the North river, 
for the term of ten years commencing 1" January, 1641, whereupon Aert Teunissen fenced 
the lands, cleared the fields, and erected a suitable brew-house, which is yet standing there, 
and brought thither eight and twenty head of large cattle, besides various small stock, swine, 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS : IV. §29 

goats, &c, and sheep (cry/end veeh), together with many of his own fruit trees. And thus 
considerable value was added to the bouwery, which Art Teunissen, as lessee, kept possession 
of until the year 1G43, when the cruel, unnatural and very destructive war broke out and his 
twenty-eight large cows and horses were killed ; the swine, goats, and all the other small 
cattle and sheep {crytend vcch) were destroyed, the dwelling-house, barns and stacks of seed 
burnt, the brew-house alone remaining standing. After the cessation talker quaUter of the war, 
in which Art Teunissen was murdered, with many others who were killed before and after 
him, by the Indians, the petitioner claimed as having married the above mentioned widow 
that he was the next to enter into possession of this bouwerie and the residuary property 
which was to be inherited. But Kyft resolved to lease that bouwerie to another, without 
once considering the enormous loss the petitioner's wife had suffered by the war, and that 
the brew-house, which was still standing, was built there with her own means and therefore 
of right belonged to her. The petitioner having understood Kyft's intention, again spoke to 
him in order to prevent her loss by reasonable arguments, so that Kyft most solemnly 
declared that there Was nothing of the sort and that he had not once entertained the thought 
of putting her out of her lawful possession, and nevertheless Kyft leased the same bouwerie 
some days afterwards to Dierck Claessen, who also afterwards abandoned it, so that it now lies 
empty or waste without the petitioner or his family having ever been able to obtain any 
indemnity for the brew-house or other remaining property; which unjust act was not only 
confirmed and continued, but even surpassed by Director Stuyvesant, as can be sufficiently 
seen by the following proceedings. 

The petitioner, having afterwards sold to Joost Teunissen, baker, his house at the Manhatans, 
as it was convenient for trade and was not well adapted for the petitioner's affairs, in order 
that he might, in accordance with the Company's ordinary rule, obtain another place from the 
Director or from the Inspector of buildings, yet was this absolutely refused him by Director 
Stuyvesant. The petitioner, having afterwards purchased a place from Abraham Pieters, 
when Stuyvesant understood that he, the petitioner, was to be the owner thereof, he, Stuyvesant, 
so diminished and encroached on said lot, in violation of the tenor of the deed thereof, which 
had been duly executed, and according to which divers proprietors had already occupied it, 
that the petitioner was obliged to sell it at a loss of one-half, and being unable to get another 
place adapted to his purposes, seeing that the Director endeavored, in every instance, to 
inconvenience him, he was, therefore, under the necessity of repairing to Fatherland. Seeking 
permission so to do, it was refused him. Yet, notwithstanding, when the petitioner went on 
shipboard, not secretly but openly, in the face and with the knowledge of the Director, 
without his saying anything against it, the skipper was allowed and received permission, 
underhand, to convey him to Fatherland. 

Wherefore, the petitioner most humbly supplicates your High Mightinesses, respectfully 
beseeching that you would be pleased to adopt such order that he may enjoy, without any 
hindrance on the part of the Director, what so justly belongs to him, and that he be 
indemnified for the loss and damage he hath already suffered by the Director's act, and further, 
that he may enjoy, in all that he is entitled to, the favorable and wonted protection of your 
High Mightinesses, the petitioner's gracious Sovereigns, and he will remember the persons 

Vol. I. 42 



330 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

and plans of your High Mightinesses in his prayers to the great and good God during his 
whole life, and awaiting your High Mightinesses' favorable answer or despatch. 

Which doing, etc. 

(Signed) Sibout Clasen. 
(Endorsed) 

Petition of Sibout Claessen, house carpenter and burgher of 
New Netherland to their High Mightinesses, the Lords States 
General of the United Netherlands. 13 Decenib r , 1649. 



Resolution of the States General on the Petitions of Augustyn Herman and others. 

[From the Register of 'West India Affairs, 1633— 1651, in the Koyal Archiyes at the Hague.] 

Monday, 13 December 1649. 
roiio 514. Read to the Assembly three separate petitions, presented to their High 

Aagustyn Herrman. Mightinesses in the names of Augustyn Herrman, Joost Theunissen, baker, and 
Sibout Claessen, house carpenter, all three burghers and inhabitants in New Netherland, 
complaining of the Director there. Whereupon deliberation being had, it is resolved and 
concluded that the said three petitions be placed in the hands of Messrs. Huyghens and the 
other their High Mightinesses' Deputies for West India Affairs, to inspect, examine, confer 
thereupon with the Directors of the aforenamed West India Company here in attendance, and 
report on the whole to their High Mightinesses. 



Resolution of the States General ordering Judgment to be drawn up in the case of 
Blommaert and others against Van Rensselaer, &c. 

[ From the Begister of West India Affairs, 1688 — 1651, in the Eoyal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Thursday, 16 th December 1G49. 
Bi.imm«rt ana De Exhibited to the Assembly two bags filled with papers in the case of Samuel 
Eeuseber. Blommaert and Johannes de Laet cum sociis Plaintiffs versus Jan van Wely and 

Wouter van Twyller, guardians of the minor son of Kiliaen van Renselaer, regarding certain 
Colonie in New Netherland. Whereupon deliberation being had, it is resolved and concluded 
The Provincial that both the aforesaid hags of papers shall be sent locked to the provincial Court 

t'ourt to prc|uire »» TT ,, j rr I J 1 r» • • i • 11 

draft of judgment. o{ Holland, Zealand and V nesland, to inspect and examine the same, and thereupon 
to prepare a draft of judgment, which being received by their High Mightinesses the 
costs and charges attendant thereupon being calculated, parties shall deposit with the Secretary 
a sum to be afterwards disposed of pursuant to the tenor of the abovementioned draft 
of judgment. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: V. 331 



Memorandum of things necessary to he done for New Netherland. 

To people it for the benefit of the Company and freemen. 

To anticipate or to prevent the English. 

To encourage Divine Worship. 

To relieve the Company of divers unnecessary officers. 

Means for the support of the requisite garrisons. 



West India Company's Abstract of the Remonstrance from New Netherland. 

[ From a MS. Id the Royal Archives at the Hague ; Lokelkas of the States General ; Kubric West Indische Compagnit, No. SO ; 7th division 

of the Bundle, J 

Brief Analysis of a certain Short Digest delivered in by Jacob van Couvvenhoven 
and Jan Evertsen Bout. 

Chapter I. Of Policy. 

Article 1. Exacting contributions, the cause of the war with the Indians. 

8 Remonstrants ruined; have complained to the Directors. 

Divers placards under Stuyvesant ; in particular that all merchants should submit their books to him. 

Half an error to be counted a whole one. 

The people forbidden to meet on the subject of the delegation to Netherland. 

Chapter II. The Church, fyc. 
Ownership of the Church. 

The collection for the School diverted. 

The Poor's money in the hands of the Company without capital or interest. 

Chapter III. Of the Administration of Justice. 

Directors ( in Amsterdam) : A letter to compute a half fault as a whole one, aud to institute proceedings against the 
Colonists, where there was no cause of action. 

The Director 2 votes; yet there is only one Councillor. 

Harsh treatment of the Clergyman. 

Interpolation of the land patents ; different from the old ones. 

Secretary Cornells van Thienhoven described ; now in the country. 

Stuyvesant: the freemen deprived of their arms, which are sold to the Indians. 

Proclamation offering refuge to the English who had been guilty of criminal acts in New England. 

Children of manumitted persons held as slaves. 

Chapter IV. Of Revenue and Trade. 
The Company exacts 16 per cent now, instead of 5. 
The authorities trade as well as the subjects, and .... 
Kieft exacted duties from the people, contrary to the Company's orders. 

The revenue and excise are wasted with the Company's property, to procure friends and affidavits. 
No order exists in that country respecting ells, weights and measures, or the currency. 

Chapter V. Of the Military. 

Order to sell arms to the Indians, contrary to the Company's Instructions. 
False reports of Secretary Thienhoven the cause of the war. 



332 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 



SHORT DIGEST 



EXCESSES AND HIGHLY INJUEIOUS NEGLECT 

WHICH NEW NETHERLAND HAS EXPERIENCED SINCE IT HAS BEEN PLACED UNDER THE 

COMPANY. 

Exhibited the 27th January, 1650, at the meeting of their 
High Mightinesses' Deputies, by Jacob van Couwenhoven 
and Jan Evertsen Bout — Adriaen van der Donck absent — 
and placed in the hands of the Directors. 



CHAPTER I. 

OF POLICY. 



Article 1. The Directors in Fatherland looking more to their own interests than to 
the general good, incur many expenses and charges unnecessary and burdensome to the 
stockholders, without thereby advancing the population : such as the undertaking of Colonies 
by members of the Board of Directors, the expensive construction of the ship Nieu-Nederlant, 
of three cumbrous mills, brick making, tar burning, manufacturing ashes, cutting timber, etc. 

Excessive wages have been fruitlessly paid in this way, tools with a hundred similar things 
uselessly destroyed, which, had order been observed, would have been highly advantageous. 
But by doing the last thing first, and the first last, the zealous and constant transportation of 
cattle, farmers and farming implements, required for the cultivation of the soil, the support 
of the people, for labor and other designs, has been neglected. Remonstrance, page 296. 1 

2. Our people, on their petitioning, would not be allowed, but have been expressly refused 
permission to take up lands, of which the English afterwards took possession ; as happened to 
Jacob Walingh and divers others — p. 296. 

3. The Exemptions first established, were subsequently altered twice, to the injury of public 
and private undertakings. 

4. Levying contributions on the Indians which they did not owe, was, according to Kieft's 
statements, in pursuance of orders from home ; and thus the seed of the war was sown in 
Fatherland. For, when the Indians refused to give, an unnatural, cruel, unnecessary, unjust 
and injurious war broke out. 

5. The Directors (in Amsterdam) sent back to Kieft the letters the Eight men addressed 
to them for information, and as a warning. The writers were thereby forcibly ruined, 
whereunto reference is made at p. 297. 

'This figures ul the end of the paragraphs in this document, icier lu the pages of this volume. — Ed. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: V. 333 

G. The Directors are not careful in the selection of their agents and of their governors, 
which is therefore made without consideration: for the latter are allowed to do as they please, 
and whatsoever they do, is considered to be well done; and even if guilty of any gross 
misbehavior, they are protected ; those are violently opposed who make any serious 
representation to the Company or to any other proper quarter; as is more than notorious in 
the case of Joachim Pieterssen Kuyter and Cornells Melyn, and in the present instance of the 
Delegates from the people; instead of discountenancing evil doers and their gross misdeeds, as 
they ought to do. 

Petitions are not duly dispatched, by which neglect many persons have been obliged to alter 
their plans, and have suffered serious loss. 

In the commencement of Stuyvesant's administration, several placards were issued, and not 
enforced. Among the rest, that all books, as well of merchants as of others, should be subject 
to his examination. 

7. Directors in New Netherland consider themselves Sovereigns, saying they are as much 
masters in New Netherland, as the Board of Managers, yea, even as the Prince or their High 
Mightinesses — p. 29S. 

8. The custom of computing half a fault as a whole one, was enforced by Kieft with bitter 
jealousy against those of whom he entertained a prejudice — p. 297. 

9. The sworn Selectmen, chosen (in the words of their Commission and the amplification 
thereof, ) from the best and honestest of the people, were treated insultingly by Stuyvesant, 
whenever they did not find him in good humor, and were berated as bear-skinners, rascals, 
rabble, rebels; and though they were the people's representatives, their Commission was 
of no weight, save when they acted in accordance with the Director's pleasure and orders — 
pp. 303, 304, 309. 

10. Stuyvesant's prejudice against Joachim Pieterssen Kuytter and Cornelis Melyn, in their 
suit with Kieft — p. 310, — which he considered as a private one. 

11. The people wishing to send a delegation to Fatherland, Stuyvesant encouraged the 
design with all his influence; but when he perceived that they would not communicate with 
him, he violently opposed the delegation, not being willing that the people meet, or to allow 
them to assemble; yea, expressly forbidding them to sign; not permitting, but forbidding 
affidavits to be drawn, except in presence of Secretary Tieuhoven, who communicated to him 
every report in circulation; the Company promising to improve the government, sends out a 
worse one — p. 314. 

CHAPTER II. 

OF THE CHURCH; ECCLESIASTICAL PROPERTY AND BENEVOLENT INSTITUTIONS. 

12. Contrary to the advice of the Churchwardens and the sound opinion of others, the Church 
was located in the fort, which is exceedingly small; so that the Church occupies almost one 
fourth part of it. Moreover shutting off the S. E. wind from the Mill ; Director Kieft's will 
and pleasure herein must be obeyed — p. 299. 

13. The Church was built by a collection among the People, and the Directors will have it 
the property of the Company — p. 299. 

14. No care or attention has hitherto been paid to secure or obtain Ecclesiastical property, 
or to select anything for the purpose — p. 300. 



334 NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

15. A plate has long been going around for a School, but the money has been diverted ; 
some few materials have been bought for it. but the first stone is yet to be laid — p. 300. 

Hi. The poor's money is mostly in the hands of the Company, who have paid neither 
principal nor interest — p. 300. 

17. There was indeed a flying report about an orphan-house, hospital and asylum for the 
aged, but it amounted to nothing — p. 300. 

18. The Directors have made no effort to convert to Christianity either the Indians, or the 
Blacks or Slaves, owned by the Company there. 

CHAPTER III. 

OF JUSTICE. 

19. The Directors have written to Kieft that he, instituting an action against the Colonists 
should, where there was no cause of action count one default, and reckon half a fault as a whole 
one, and so forth — p. 297. 

20. No appeal from the Director is allowed, and Kieft had two votes in the Council ; he 
had, moreover, but one councillor John de la Montagne, who had only one vote. Cornelis van 
Koykens was Fiscal ; Cornelis van Tienhoven, Secretary. Sometimes, on extraordinary 
occasions which were very rare, the Director allowed those whom he thought proper to be 
invited to a seat in the Council but all these were usually the Company's servants. This 
was the Court, where all justice in New Netherland was administered, and no nigher nor 
further must men go. Was not that a poor provision — p. 304. 

21. The unjust proceedings of the Directors against Francis Douthey the Minister, who, 
because he appealed from Kieft's unrighteous sentence, was put in prison, and obliged to pay 
a fine of 25 guilders before he could be set at liberty — pp. 305, 306. 

22. The same proceedings were had recourse to against Arnold van Hardenberg, who was 
likewise fined 25 guilders because he appealed — pp. 305, 306. 

23. After transfer had been executed on the patents to proprietors, Kieft added thereunto a 
little clause which was manifestly contradictory ; inasmuch as the patents include the land and 
valley, and the clause takes the valley back for the Company ; in addition to what was contained 
in the old patents, it was conditioned that people must bear all burdens that the Company will 
impose thereupon, which can be extended ad infinitum — p. 306. 

24. Director Stuyvesant acts in the Court as an interested advocate of one party or the 
other; whosoever contradicts him, he berates like a fishfag — p. 307. 

25. Vice Director Lubbertus van Dincklagen must accord with the Director, on account of 
the menaces with which he is threatened — p. 307. 

26. La Montagne is a councillor, but he hath no Commission from Fatherland. Brian Nuton, 
being an Englishman, understands neither laws nor language. 

27. Adriaen Keyser, the Commissary is unqualified ; says, he lets God's water run over 
God's land. 

28. Jelmer Thomassen, skipper, and 

29. Paulus Leendertsen, Naval Storekeeper (equipage meester) are looked upon by Stuyvesant 
as thieves; and it is probably true, inasmuch as Paulus Leendertsen has become wealthy in a 
short time, though in receipt but of a small salary — pp. 307, 30S. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: V. 335 

30. Henrick van Dyck is Fiscal ; utterly intolerable in words and deeds; an addle pate — 
p. 308. 

31. Cornells van Tienlioven is Secretary; he is subtle, crafty, intelligent, sharpwitted for 
evil; one of the oldest inhabitants in the country; is conversant with all the circumstances 
both of Christians and Indians; hath even associated with the savages through lechery; he is 
a dissembler, doublefaced, a cheat; the whole country proclaims him a knave, a murderer, a 
traitor — pp. 30S, 309, — inasmuch as he by false reports originated the war ; he holds the office of 
Secretary, wherein lie perpetrates all conceivable sorts of blunders now against one, now against 
another; even against his own employers; he fleeces the people. 

32. Director Stuyvesant, though heretofore warned of the Secretary's qualities, hath, 
notwithstanding, employed and promoted him. 

33. Director Stuyvesant's arrogant and partial behavior towards Joachim Pietersen and 
Cornelis Melyn, in their absence, is to be seen on p. 310, saying, though they return with an 
order from the States, he should send them back forthwith. 

34. Francis Douthey, an English Clergyman, was subjected to an utterly unjust condition 
before he was allowed to depart — never to mention how illegally he had been treated in 
New Netherland ; and because he would not execute an obligation to that effect, he would not 
be permitted to leave — p. 311. • 

35. Stuyvesant forcibly seized fire-arms, the property of some freemen, and secretly sold 
them to the Indians — p. 311. 

36. Divers persons are denied justice ; there are sundry declarations to that effect. 

37. Joost Teunissen Baker complained to the 9 men of open violence; having been 
without a shadow of proof, accused of smuggling, by one the Company's servants underserving 
of belief, he was, after thirteen days' imprisonment, released on bail ; and no proof being forth 
coming after the expiration of a year and a day, Stuyvesant refused, nevertheless, to discharge 
the bail, which is still bound, whilst Joost Teunissen himself is in Fatherland. The nine men 
demanding right and justice in his behalf, were, however, unable to assist him. 

38. Peter van der Linde is, in like manner, refused right and justice. 

39. The English were highly indignant at that atrocious proclamation in which he offered 
free refuge to all those who had fallen into the hands of justice in New England, no matter 
what their crime was. 

40. Confiscating ships for trifling reasons, causes much trouble and diversion of the 
trade — p. 312. 

41. Stuyvesant went in person to the room of Adriaen van der Donck, president of the board 
of the nine men, and took away the rough draft or blotter, which he, by order of the Selectmen, 
had filled up from day to day — p. 310. 

42. To cut off the usual means of justice and declarations, the Directors, both Stuyvesant 
and Kieft, gave orders that no declarations should be drawn up except before Secretary 
Tienhoven, who reported everything just as he pleased. And it is to be remaked, that 
such order was issued or renewed each time they became alarmed that certificates of their 
misgovernment were in course of preparation — p. 316. 

43. Children of manumitted slaves were retained in slavery, contrary to all public law. 



336 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

CHAPTER IV. 

OF FINANCE AND TRADE. 

44. Because the Exemptions have been changed twice, occasion has been taken by the 
Directors and other the Company's servants, when the merchants and inhabitants plead 
Exemption, to say: — The Exemptions are abrogated ; and where the goods are at the charge 
of the inhabitants, they are rated at their full value. Wherefore, whatever men please, is 
allowed to, or retained from people, who are subject to arbitrary imposition. 'Twas promised 
at first, that the Company would be satisfied with five per cent; it now collects a duty of full 
sixteen per cent — p. 314. 

45. Inspection, storage, carelessness and detention of goods, fall so heavy on the merchant 
that he had as lief be a slave under the Turk as a trader under the rule of the Company. By 
these means, also, is the trade of this country retrograding — p. 297. 

46. There are some few, on the other hand, who stand well with the Masters or the Master's 
men, or do them particular good turns — with these everything is done pro for mil, by which 
means they drive a more lucrative trade than others. Hence arises this evil : the government 
does what the subjects do — to wit, carries on trade there, and that in competition with the 
people — pp. 311, 312. 

47. The Company hath never yet undertaken anything special for the advantage of New 
Netherland whereby it has been improved — p. 300. 

48. Neither does it take any heed of New Netherland, except when something is to be got 
from it — p. 313. 

49. The inhabitants universally complain that they prosper less than their neighbors who 
enjoy greater freedom, as regards imposts, than our nation. The Directors and the Company's 
servants make answer, that they are well aware of it, and cannot help it ; complaint of it 
must be made to the Lords Majors and their High Mightinesses — p. 314 

50. The excise was imposed by force; that on beer by Kieft — p. 300. 

51. Kieft hath also imposed duties on the People contrary to the Company's orders. 

52. Stuyvesant imposed an excise on wine, contrary to the petition, and against the consent, 
of the inhabitants. Instead of removing that on beer which was finally agreed to for the 
duration of the war, or imposed against the public will, contributions were levied for public 
works, which, notwithstanding, have never been constructed — pp. 301, 302, 303. 

53. The Company's property in New Netherland amounts to about 60 (§170,000 guilders; 
per contra, it is indebted as much or more to private individuals — p. 301. 

54. The revenue and excise are incorporated with the Company's effects, and the one and 
the other employed to make friends and to obtain certificates — p. 302. 

55. Stuyvesant hath built considerably, at great expense to the Company, from which no 
profit has been derived — p. 302. 

56. Neither has any order been made relative to the ell or weights and measures, nor to the 
currency in wampum or coin, notwithstanding the people have petitioned and shown how it 
ought and could be effected — p. 302. 

57. The Company's grain measure is suspected — p. 303. 

5S. Stuyvesant trades in articles of contraband, and carries on all sorts of traffic on his 
individual account — pp. 311, 312. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: V. 337 

59. Stuyvesant insists on the payment of the debts contracted by individuals during the 
war, or that Company be paid interest; many being impoverished, little or no choice is thus 
left them — p. 313. 

60. On the other hand, payment is refused of the lawful debts which the Company owes 
individuals, such as earned monthly wages, goods delivered, &c — p. 313. 

61. With a view to win those back whom he hath offended in the highest degree, Stuyvesant 
hath exempted the English, for a long time past, from the duty which the Dutch were obliged 
to pay; his caprice may be hence inferred. Great injury was thus inflicted on the trade of 
our nation and of our merchants. 



CHAPTER V. 

OF THE MILITARY. 

62. The Directors, in Amsterdam, have given orders to Stuyvesant to sell articles of 
contraband, such as guns, powder and lead, to the Indians — pp. 311, 312. 

63. The fort is dismantled and allowed to go to ruin ; and a military force hath never been 
maintained there competent for the defence and protection of the inhabitants, but sufficient 
for their ruin and destruction — p. 303. 

64. Kieft falsely laid at the door of the people the blame of the war which had been 
enkiudled by him and his adherents, especially by Secretary Cornelis van Tienhoven by means 
of his false reports — p. 304. 

65. The war was caused solely by the exaction from and refusal by the Indians of 
contributions which they did not owe; the injudicious expeditions and violence against them, 
and the cruel slaughter which first manifested itself in a mysterious toast — pp. 304, 305. 

66. Jacob Ryntges and" Jacob Schermerhorn were banished, and their goods confiscated, for 
smuggling: the ban is removed, but the restitution of the property is impossible — p. 312. 

67. The Directors, in Holland, have not endeavored, nor used any means, nor given any 
orders, to discover the cause of, or to forbid the war, which creates strong suspicion that they 
themselves authorized it — p. 314. 

68. The St. Beninio, a ship belonging to Benjor, an Italian at Amsterdam, was forcibly cut 
out of New Haven, where it lay under the protection of the English, and brought as a prize 
to, and confiscated at the Manhattans. 

In addition to these, there are divers other excesses too numerous to particularize. 



Vol I. 43 



338 NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Answer of the West India Company to the Remonstrance from New JSfetherland. 

[From the Original in the Eoyal Archives at the Hague ; Lohelkas of the States General; Rubric West Indische Compagn ie No. 30 ; 7th division 

of the Bundle. ] 

Answer to the Remonstrance delivered by the Delegates from New Netherland, 
on the 27 th January, 1650, to the High and Mighty Lords States General of 
the United Netherlands. 

It appeareth strange to the Directors (of the W. I. Company,) that the Remonstrants 
commence their introduction with calumnies against the Board, their Patroons, complaining of 
excesses and highly injurious neglect, which, if any existed, ought to have been represented 
in season to the said Patroons, by them in virtue of their commission dated 27 July, 1G49, 
communicated for the first time, on the 9 ih of December last, full eight or nine weeks subsequent 
to their arrival ; and that they addressed themselves to the Lords of the Supreme government 
without having ever spoken or made any application on the subject of their commission, 
to the Directors, notwithstanding the latter were requested by their general letters to lend them 
assistance. And though under correction, the Directors are of opinion that, by virtue of the 
Charter granted by your High Mightinesses to the Company, the said Delegates, as they style 
themselves, were in duty bound to address themselves to the Directors at the Chamber at 
Amsterdam, and in case of receiving no satisfaction there, to the Assembly of the XIX., where 
your High Mightinesses preside by your Hon ble Deputies. Being, with this reservation, disposed 
to respond to your High Mightinesses' invitation, we say: 

To the first Article. 
If the petitioners know of any Directors here, who have preferred their own private interests 
to the general advantage of the Company, contrary to their oath and honor, they ought to state 
it, or be bound yet to do so. Failing therein it is answered, that the petitioners do in no wise 
refer to the Company's government, inasmuch as they speak of matters which transpired 
before the major part of them were in the country. 

To the 2nd. 
The Directors ignore this ; saying, if lands have been refused for purposes of cultivation, the 
petitioners ought to indicate who those were that did so, if they know them. 

3. 

The Exemptions have never been altered without the knowledge of your High Mightinesses 
and that of the XIX., and let it be shown who aimed therein at their private advantage. 

4. 
The Directors are not aware that contributions have been levied off the Indians, much less 
that orders to that effect have been issued by them or any other person. 

5. 
The letter was communicated to the Director with good intentions, in order that he might 
see, and purge himself of, the accusation ; without any orders to molest the signers of the letter 
for what they had done. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS : V. 339 

6. 

The Directors do not select any agents but such as they consider qualified, and are approved 
by their High Mightinesses and by them provided with regular Commission and Instruction. 
And as regards the case of Jochim Pitersen and Cornells Melyn, who have been punished for 
reasons more fully set forth in their sentence, the Board finds it particularly strange that 
these people dare complain that (to use their own language) evil doers and theirgross misdeeds 
go unpunished, when on the other hand, 'tis notorious that up to the present time, no 
application has been made to the Directors. As regards the complaints about the petitions, we 
cannot form any other opinion but that the Governor found sufficient reasons to lay them aside, 
and hath left them unanswered. 

Such placards were never communicated to the Board of Directors. 

7. 

The Board has no knowledge of what the Directors (in N. N.) say; but this is true that the 
latter represent the Supreme government and the Company, administering justice conformably 
to Commission and Instruction, in the name of their High Mightinesses, his Highness and of 
the Company. 

8. 
We cannot understand what the petitioners would express by the S" 1 Article. 

9. 

We never heard before that the Director spoke harshly to those who treated him respectfully ; 
but are now informed that a certain person, who was unwilling to allow his goods to be 
inspected, behaved with great opposition towards the Director. Wherefore it may be that the 
latter expressed himself as the occasion required, but we know nothing of the matter. 

10. 
The sentence can explain the grounds of Jochim Pitersen and Cornells Melyn's punishment. 

11. 

* 

We say the Director was favorably inclined to promote the interests of the Commonalty, 
on condition that he were communicated with. But these men separated themselves from the 
well-disposed and secretly induced a few low inhabitants to sign their names, who, also, have 
contributed each a few pennies to the delegation, as more fully can appear by the particular 
signatures, or procuration affixed to the Remonstrance ; hence, 'tis probable that these persons 
abuse the name of the Commonalty, as the Remonstrance is signed by the minority, the mass 
of the people not approving of those proceedings, but evincing every satisfaction with the 
present government, according to the Remonstrance No. 3, signed by 20 persons residing at 
the Manhatans. 

12. 

The Church was erected, for satisfactory reasons, in the fort. 

13. 

It cost much more than 8000 guilders whereof it cannot be proved that the people paid 
eight hundred; the collection taken up by subscription, hath realized the least. 



340 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

14 
We request that they declare what they understand by ecclesiastical property. 

15 
The Director hath not the administration of the money that was taken up on the plate ; 
but Jacob Couwenhoven, who is one of the petitioners, hath kept account of it in his quality 
of churchwarden. 

16. 
'Tis acknowledged that the Company is indebted to the Deaconry, nine or ten hnndred 
guilders, according to the tenor of the obligation thereof drawn up in New Netherland A° 1649. 
The first interest thereupon will fall due A° 1650. 

17. 
The Company's circumstances admitted of the building neither of an hospital nor orphan 
asylum, which are not very necessary there as yet. 

18. 
Every one conversant with the Indians in, and around New Netherland, will be able to say, 
that it is morally impossible to convert the adults to the Christian faith. Besides, 'tis a Minister's 
business to apply himself to that, and the Director's duty to assist him therein. 

Chapter III. Article 19. 

The present Board of Directors seeks for proof as to who those are who have given orders to 
reckon half a fault for a whole one ; they cannot believe that such order emanated from the 
Assembly (of the XIX.) 

20. 
The Charter accorded by their High Mightinesses to the Company shows that the judgments 
of the Director and Council are final. 

21. 
Respecting this article, we refer to the sentence. 

22. 
This article we refer, as above, to the sentence. 

23. 
We are informed and therefore say, that the petitioners will not prove that the late Director, 
Willem Kieft, hath called in more than one patent ; and he subjoined with his own hand, that 
he reserved the valley, not for the Company, but for the town of Breuckelen in general. The 
reason of this revocation was, because Jan Eversen Bout, one of the petitioners, who 
occupies part of the valley, together with others besides him who undertook to found or 
improve the town of Breukelen at their own expense, submitted to the Director how prejudicial 
'twould be to the town that one man named Tonis Nyssen should have the exclusive possession 
of so extensive a valley, directly contrary to the Freedoms. The Director had signed the 
patent on the report of Hudde, the Surveyor, without specifying therein the number of morgens. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: V. 341 

And after information had been received from said Jan Eversen (one of the petitioners) and 
others, the Director allowed Tonis Nyssen agreeably to the Freedoms, as much of said valley 
as he should have need of in proportion to his plantation. 

24. 

The Director being president, gives permission to speak ;*but it must be shown that he, 
sitting in court, pleaded any one's case as an advocate. 

25. 
This point demands proof. 

26. 

Director Kieft did, with the approbation of his superiors, employ La Montagne, a very 
learned man, as member of the Council, although not sent from Fatherland expressly in that 
capacity, in which he is continued by Director Stuyvesant. 

Brian Nuton, Captain Lieutenant, having served the Company a long time, is also employed 
as Councillor; and it is a great untruth, that he does not understand the Dutch language, but 
it will be proved that he speaks it fluently. 

27. 
The petitioners must show that Commissary Adriaen de Keyser, is unqualified for his office. 

28 and 29. 

We are not aware that the Director esteems Jelmer Tomassen and Paulus Leendersen 
to be thieves. Jelmer Tomassen is in this country ; if needs be, he will willingly answer 
the petitioners. 

30. 
On proof of this article by the petitioners, the Fiscal will be recalled. 

31. 

As regards the calumnies against Cornelis van Tienhoven, he is prepared to answer the 
petitioners, if their High Mightinesses consider it necessary. 

32. 

No person warned the Director against the Secretary, except those who were seeking for his 
situation : that might be proved in New Netherland. 

33. 

Director Stuyvesant's demeanor towards Jochem Pitersen and Melyn, is to us unknown, and 
it must be proved, and not stated through passion. 

34. 

Francis Douthey being indebted to the Company about eleven hundred guilders, petitioned, 
in New Netherland, for permission to depart. The Director and Council are willing to allow 
him to do so, but think they ought first of all be paid ; his incapacity so to do, was the reason 
why he was not allowed to depart, and it must be proved that the Director required from 
him any obligation under his hand. 



342 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

35. 

We are informed that the petitioners will in no wise be able to prove that Director 
Sruyvesant bath confiscated any person's arms; but 'tis very true, that in 1648, a few 
snaphaunce were found on board the Valckenier and Pynappel, on arriving in New Netherland, 
in the hands of some freemen and sailors, who said they had brought them for their personal 
defence. And as they had not provided themselves with a certificate from the Chamber at 
Amsterdam, pursuant to general orders, the Fiscal seized the guns, for each of which, though 
subject to confiscation, the Director out of pure kindness, paid two beavers or sixteen guilders, 
being nearly double what they cost in this country. 

36. 
The petitioners ought to have exhibited the declarations, if any they have, to the Board. 

37. 

Joost Tonissen having been accused, with others, by the Company's Corporal, of having 
bought guns, locks and barrels from him ; and as the accusation was true, which said Corporal 
repeated against Jacob Reynsen, the Council, with the Fiscal, went to his (Tonisen's) house, 
and, making a search, found one Company's musket, which the Fiscal took away with him. 
And as the Director and Council sought further information, Joost Tonissen was imprisoned 
and let out on bail. 

3S. 

Wherein was Piter van der Linden refused right or justice? 

39. 

We are informed that the English in the colony of New Haven, in New England, had, 
contrary to ancient custom, protected the Company's servants and freemen who had run away, 
and, though requested, would not allow them to return to their Lords and Masters. A 
Proclamation was then issued, with the advice of the Council, that whosoever would come 
over to us from thence, should be protected in like manner. On Governor Eton letting some 
fugitives go, who returned back to us, the proclamation was annulled, the dispute about 
boundaries between us and the English remaining as before. The latter, however, carry on a 
friendly trade with our Nation. 

40. 

The ships confiscated in New Netherland are the St. Titter, during the administration of 
William Kieft; the ist. Bcnhijn, and the ship the Prins van Denmarcken, by Director Stuyvesant 
and Council, because the first had not observed his contract, and had articles of contraband ; 
the other had come without license and without paying either duties or convoy, to trade 
within the limits of the charter granted to the Company by their High Mightinesses. 

41. 
Director Stuyvesant was so informed by Thomas Hall and Michiel Jansen, co-petitioners ; 
information having been given of the Journal he seized it, and is ready to communicate 
extracts therefrom. 

42. 
In consequence of housekeepers and other common people in New Netherland coming 
frequently before the court, with declarations drawn up by this or t'other sailor, and those 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: V. 343 

« 

who had signed the declarations as deponents, when heard thereon, frequently asserting that 
the declarations were drawn up quite contrary to their meaning, it was ordered that no 
declarations should be of any force in that country unless drawn up by the Secretary or 
some other public person qualified thereunto, but by no means with any such view as the 
petitioners represent. 

43. 

The Company's negroes, taken from the Spaniards, being all slaves, were, on account of 
their long services, manumitted on condition that their children serve the Company whenever 
it pleased. Of all the children, no more than three are in service, viz., one, which Stuyvesant 
has with him on the Company's bouwerie ; one at the house, the Hope; one wench with 
Marten Krigier, who hath reared her from a little child at his own expense. 

44. 

It is not true that the Company hath received five per cent, but in reality sixteen per cent, 
according to contracts made with merchants in the premises; they enjoy, in return, trade 
which the Company might otherwise retain to themselves agreeably to the charter ; and the 
text — five per cent — is incorrectly applied, it having reference to freights and not to duties; 
according to Exemptions, article 10. 

45. 

The merchants are treated agreeably to the regulations made therein. 

46. 
We know not what the petitioners mean by this article. 

47. 

We think the Company has done enough, to wit: in conveying over, at the Company's 
expense, numbers of people, among whom were Jacob Couwenhoven's father and brothers, 
together with cattle and other necessaries. 

48. 
We consider their duty to be to receive whatever is to be paid. 

49. 
This article is answered in the deduction. 

50. 

'Tis to be considered that, in New Netherland, only a beer and wine-excise is levied, 
which is paid by the Tapsters alone ; the rest of the inhabitants are untaxed and do not pay 
any excise. 

51. 

The late Director Kieft, having great need of money, collected, in New [Netherland], in 
supplies for the people, the duties which the traders were bound to pay to the Directors at 
Amsterdam, as the accounts of the privileged merchants can show; some petty traders 
(sckotten) paid in beavers or in wampum. 



344 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

52. 
The burgher, or other inhabitants of New Netherland, do not pay any beer or wine-excise ; 
the inn, or tavern-keeper, alone is obliged to pay the excise, which impost is less than of right 
belongs to the Compauy, and there is no cause for the inhabitants to complain on that account. 

53. 
We are of opinion that the petitioners are utterly ignorant of the Company's property, and 
very improperly make any estimate thereof, that being, in no wise, the petitioners' business. 

54 and 55. 
We consider that we are fully authorized to employ the Company's revenue as may be 
necessary, without being obliged to render any account to the petitioners or such persous ; 
and demand proof that the Company's property is employed in getting certificates. 

56. 
Heretofore there has been no currency but Wampum among the common people, in New 
Netherland ; the Wampum which formerly passed at the rate of four for a stiver, was reduced 
to six. We are not aware of any other but the Dutch ell, measure and weight, being in use; 
and an order was issued, last summer, that all the inhabitants should bring their weights into 
the Company's warehouse, to be stamped anew there. 

57. 
No complaint has been heard against the Company's grain measure. 

58. 
The petitioners ought to prove that the Director trades on his own account, or allows 
trading in articles of contraband. If he sell merchandise, or cause any to be sold, 'tis his 
business and 'twill appear in account, and be charged to the Company. 

59. 

We are informed that no person is constrained to pay; but those indebted to the Company 
are requested so to do. And it can be proved by the books, that the debts were incurred 
previous to the war, and accrued from clothing, provisions and other necessary supplies 
advanced by the Directors to the people who went from Holland ; the most of whom now 
can pay. Where the principal is refused, 'tis fair that interest be paid, the rather as the 
Company itself pays interest. 

60. 

'Tis strange that these petitioners should say the Company's debts are not paid, inasmuch 
as they think those indebted to the Company ought not to pay their own debts; as shown in 
the preceding article. 

61. 

Our intention is that no goods from New England, not in the regulation heretofore made 
in the case, shall be allowed to enter our district, free ; and if through oversight, any abuses 
have been committed by connivance in the matter, we are determined to instruct the 
Director to conform himself, for the future, to the order and regulation heretofore made and 
enacted thereupon. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: V. 345 

Chapter V. Article 62. 

It is not known, and proof is demanded, that orders have been given by us to trade in 
articles of contraband. 

63. 

The fort belonging to the Company has, for want of means, not been properly repaired; the 
petitioners, though requested, would not aid in repairing it, although 'twas designed for their 
own defence; and the additional embarrassments of the Company prevented soldiers being 
sent thither. If any one hath suffered annoyance from the soldiers, he ought to have 
complained thereof to the officer. 

64. 

We know not to whom Willem Kieft, now deceased, attributed the war; but 'tis, indeed, 
true, that the freemen (accompanied by Govert Loockermans, one of the petitioners), made 
the attack on the Indians at Corlaer's Hook, and the soldiers on those at Pavonia. 

Previous to these expeditions and before war was decided on, in the Council Chamber, 
where the Reverend Mr. Bogardus was present, Cornelis van Tienhoven and Hans Steen were 
commanded by the Director and Council to repair to Pavonia, and to examine the position of 
the Indian huts; whereof they made a report. 

65. 

We never authorized nor countenanced the war; but on all occasions, ordered that every 
possible attempt be made to preserve peace. 

66. 
Jacob Reyntjes and Schermerhoorn were not banished for smuggling; but because they 
purchased the Company's arms from its Corporal, and traded them away to the Indians; as 
can be proved by their letters, signed with their own hands. 

67. 

That we have been the cause of the war, requires proof; on the contrary we have written, 
by every opportunity, to endeavor by all means to restore peace. 

68. 

The ship Beninjo, belonging to Sieur Bensio, being come within the limits and charter of 
the Company, without permit, or consent of the Chamber at Amsterdam, much less without 
having paid duty, was taken out of the bay in front of New Haven, and confiscated in New 
Netherland. The owner is in Amsterdam ; had he thought that he suffered any wrong, he 
should long since have brought it before the court. And it is worthy remark, that some of 
the petitioners offered a reward for the seizure or arrest of this interloper. The grounds 
of the confiscation appear in the judgment. 

We cannot discover from the Remonstrance of the delegates from New Netherland, with 
what view these people have come hither, inasmuch as the entire of their complaints is filled 
with calumnies, not only against the Director, but especially against us, their Patroons, who, 
therefore, cannot presume otherwise but that these people intend, on the one hand, to rid 
themselves of all government, or on the other, to pay in this wise the Company, what many of 
Vol. I. 44 



346 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

them are for a long time indebted to it; and principally to escape the tenths of their incomes 

now due by many for several years, and which, on account of their iterated complaints of the 

losses they had experienced, were remitted up to the year 1648, when the Director first 

mentioned them. The consequence was, the people being under covenant in this case, 

requested to be exonerated for still another year from the aforesaid tythes. In this they were 

again favored, and it seems as if, in return for all this, they intend to pay their Patroons as 

already stated. We are respectfully of opinion that, if these people have anything to represent 

or to request, they, as has already been said in the beginning, ought to have applied to the 

Board of Directors, in conformity to their credentials, addressed to this Chamber. Done at 

the Hague, the 31" January, 1650. 

( Signed ) P. Marcus de Vogelar. 

Jacob Pergens. 

isaack van beeck. 



Petition of the Delegates from New Netherland. 

[ From the Original in the Royal ArchiveB at the Hague ; Loketkas of the States General : Division, West IndUche Compagnie, No. 25. ] 

[ L. S. ] 

To the High and Mighty Lords, the Lords States General of the United Netherlands. 

High and Mighty Lords! 

The Delegates from New Netherland represent with due respect, that they delivered into the 
Assembly here, on the 13 th October, 1649, a certain petition and commission, setting forth 
the sober, and utterly ruinous condition of New Netherland ; and, moreover, have communicated 
to the committee divers other papers, together with a perfect map of the country, and its 
situation, as well as some samples of the fruits and peltries produced there; also, furnished 
full verbal information on every subject in particular; performed, likewise, all the duties they 
could remember, according to the directions and instructions of their principals in New 
Netherland. in order to obtain thorough redress. Whereupon some of the Board of Directors 
were inclined to act inconsiderately, as is their usual custom, and to criminate and countermine 
what the petitioners have done, accusing them of being unworthy of all credit, demanding 
unseasonably further proof of matters, in order, as the petitioners cannot but apprehend, thus, 
by controversy, to delay and protract the good work. 

Independent of the petitioners and their constituents being public, and for the country's 
interests, sworn individuals, who therefore in such case deserve full credit, their proofs are as 
palpable as the sun at clear noon, inasmuch as they have asserted, that disorder and an 
insufferable government, with their consequences, in conjunction with the covetousness of 
some individuals, are the sole cause and parent of all that ruin and mischief, as the injurious 
fruits thereof amply testify, because Heaven has not visited New Netherland with any 
extraordinary, unavoidable calamities, except such as have originated with the Company and 
its agents. Again, that country is more favored, and better situated than New England ; the 
Dutch also commenced planting their respective lands many years before the English, yet, 
notwithstanding, New England is populous, rich, prosperous, driving an immense trade and 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: V. 347 

commerce almost with the entire universe ; yea, is flourishing, whilst New Netherland, on the 
contrary, is a desert, usurped on the east side by the English, and on the southwest side by 
the Swedes, despite of first possession taken by this State; and is, moreover, impoverished, 
harassed and afflicted ; yea, reduced to utter ruin by the aforesaid bad government. Pending 
the war, remonstrances and complaints against it were addressed, in abundance, both verbally 
and in writing to the Amsterdam Chamber of the XIX. Finally, when hope and help there 
was none, the matter was communicated to your High Mightinesses. The entire country hath 
long felt the evil effects of the war ; and felt it the more through the danger of Indian revenge ; 
and it will continue to experience it, until those in that country who are responsible for the 
mischiefs, and were instructed and sworn by your High Mightinesses to correct the evil by 
strict justice, are recalled home; until Cornelis van Tieuhoven, Secretary of New Netherland, 
now here at the Hague, also a chief cause of the ruin (as is to be seen by the copy of a 
petition hereunto annexed ), be removed out of the country, and until population be encouraged, 
of which there is little appearance, unless your High Mightinesses will please to assume the 
supervision and protection of the country absolutely to yourselves, and to favor it with a good 
civil government, composed of those interested in the country; unalterable Privileges and 
Exemptions together with a settlement of the boundaries, which is very necessary for the 
country and its peace. Such is, also, very just; for it was taken possession of from Cape 
Hinlopen to Staten Hook or Cape Cod, by your High Mightinesses' subjects and this State, in 
the year 1609, before any English or Swedes had thought of coming thither. 

Wherefore we, the petitioners, in our quality aforesaid, have recourse to your High 
Mightinesses, humbly praying and urgently beseeching, as the Spring is at hand, and the 
season for preparation daily approaches, and the Delegates are here at heavy expense, that 
the affairs of New Netherland and its Redress be favorably considered, and that it be 
provisionally encouraged by the enactment, at an early day, of a good ordinance. 

To the end that the worthy patriots and the well meaning people in that country may no 
longer be frustrated in their hope, but entirely relieved and released from oppression and 
slavery ; and that this State may not be wholly dispossessed of that fine country, which alone 
is of greater extent than the Seventeen Dutch Provinces, and which, in the hour of need, will 
be found a strong arm, by the assistance it will render in people and provisions; for after 
population shall have increased, your High Mightinesses will carry on a very large trade from 
the one to the other of your own countries — hinc hide et inde bine- — without any save your 
High Mightinesses' having control or authority overy it. Which doing, etc. 

(In the margin.) 

The States General of the United Netherlands have, after previous deliberation, placed this 

Remonstrance in the hands of the Lords Aertsbergen and the others their High Mightinesses' 

Deputies for the West India Company's affairs, to investigate and examine it; to extract the 

important points therefrom, and report on the whole. 

Done in the Assembly of the most noble the States General, the 7 lh February. 1650. 

(Signed) Johan van Reede, V. 

By order of the same, in the absence of the Secretary, 

(Signed) J. Spronssen. 
(Endorsed) 

Petition of the Committee from New Netherland to their High 

Mightinesses the Lords States General of the United 

Netherlands. 1650, T . 



348 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Petition of Cornelius Melyn, Patroon on Staten Island, with accompanying 

Documents. 

[ From the Notarial copy remaining in the Royal Archives at the Uague ; Lokelkat of the States General ; Division, West Indische Compagnie No 25. ] 

[ L. S. ] 

To the High and Mighty Lords the Lords States General of the United Netherlands. 

High and Mighty Lords ! 

Cornells Melyn, Patroon on Staten Island in New Netherland, your High Mightinesses' 
humble servant, respectfully showeth : That he repaired to New Netherland with your High 
Mightinesses' Mandamus in case of appeal and favorable letter, obtained here in the year 1648, 
against the sentence pronounced by Director Petrus Stuyvesant and his Council, on your 
Petitioner, and caused due service of said Mandamus on the abovenamed Director and his 
Council, as well as on all others in any wise concerned, pursuant to the tenor of your High 
Mightinesses' addition endorsed on the aforesaid Mandamus. Petrus Stuyvesant, the Director, 
treated the service of the Mandamus with very boisterous disrespect, tearing it in the presence 
of all the People, out of the officer's hands, so that your High Mightinesses' own seal fell ofT, 
and had the Mandamus not been written on parchment but only on paper, it would indeed have 
heen torn in pieces; all which will further appear by the return of the officer in the copy 
hereunto annexed, the original whereof is in Petitioner's possession. And notwithstanding 
the Petitioner hath not been able to obtain, either before or after judgment, nor even after 
service was made of your High Mightinesses' Mandamus, nor after his indispensable protest, 
aught or any of the papers and documents against him whereby the judgment is claimed 
to be well sustained, nor sufficient copies thereof; notwithstanding the declaration of Vice- 
Director Lubbertus van Dinclagen, a Doctor of Law, as by the return can be seen, that he 
(the petitioner) is wronged by Director Petrus Stuyvesant and his advisers detaining the 
papers which are favorable to the petitioner, and otherwise apply to the vote on the judgment; 
notwithstanding also, that Henrick Opdyck, the fiscal, in answer to the petitioner, denied 
being a party in the suit against him, and other councillors offer other excuses and subterfuges — 
yet he, your petitioner, cannot obtain in fairness from Director Stuyvesant, according to 
the tenor of the abovementioned Mandamus, any revocation of the judgment, nor reparation 
of suffered defamation and loss ; but inasmuch as the aforementioned Director, about fourteen 
days previous to your petitioner's last departure from New Netherland, did dispatch hither 
his Secretary, Cornells van Tienhoven, who, when summoned, obstinately refused to answer on 
service of your High Mightinesses' Mandamus, your petitioner hath finally found himself 
obliged immediately to follow him. 

Therefore, in order to complain of the abovementioned frivolous, unfounded judgment, as 
well as to institute his further action which he hath against the abovenamed Secretary, the 
petitioner humbly applies to your High Mightinesses, respectfully requesting that you would 
be pleased to appoint time and place for the said Secretary to appear and to hear such demand 
and conclusion as your petitioner shall make against him as principal, and as attorney, as the 
same shall then be found requisite. 

Wherefore the petitioner, most respectfully, and with all humility, prays that your High 
Mightinesses will be pleased to help him, for once, to the speedy expedition of his good right, 
and to take into consideration that your petitioner hath now groped such a length of time, 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: V. 349 

since the year 1643, in this labyrinth without any error or fault of his, for the advancement 
of the public interests, being, in the meanwhile, obliged to neglect, for so long a time, his 
private affairs and family, being burdened with six children, and to encounter, to his excessive 
cost and great injury, all sorts of vexation and trouble in his private affairs, on account of a 
public matter so entirely just ; therefore the petitioner will respectfully expect your High 
Mightinesses' favorable postil and speedy conclusion, inasmuch as the time for returning back 
draws nigh. Which doing, &c. 

( fn the margin was:) 

The States General of the United Netherlands have, upon previous deliberation, placed this 
petition, with the papers annexed, in the hands of Mess" van Aertsbergen and other their 
High Mightinesses' Deputies for the West India Company's affairs, to inspect and to examine 
them, and to hear and understand the petitioner and Secretary van Tienhoven, who is at 
present here at the Hague, again and again, and to make a report on the whole matter to 
their High Mightinesses. 

Done at the Assembly of the Noble States General, the S th February, 1G50. 

(Signed) Johan van Reede, V. 
By order of the same. 

(Signed) Corn' Musch, 1650. 
(Endorsed) Cornelis Melyn. 

Schedule N° 3. 

Sentence pronounced hy Director Stuyvesant on Cornelius Melyn. 

Whereas Cornelis Melyn, born at Antwerp, aged about five and forty years, inhabitant and 
burgher of the city of New Amsterdam, in New Netherland, hath dared, on the 2 d May, 1645, 
and did (according to the sworn affidavit thereof being) set himself in opposition and 
contravention to justice, threatening the Honorable Director Kieft, at the time his lawful 
Governor and superior, with the gallows and the wheel; or, as the delinquent, according to 
his confession, without torture, perverted the words to the Fiscal and other officers ordered 
to execute the judgment, and said — Let those who have given you orders, look to it, that they 
do not reach the gallows and the wheel — and hath further resisted justice and the order of the 
Hon ble Director Kieft aforesaid, so that the Fiscal was obliged to euter a protest of contumacy 
and opposition against him, Melyn, according to divers other affidavits taken and sworn to at 
the time he, Melyn, was convicted of slandering justice and the law here, saying — Here be 
no justice ; he was not a subject of the Hon 1 ' 1 ' Director; the Hon ble Director may occupy 
himself with the Company's servants — he is a headstrong fool {een duyvcls hop), with many 
other mutinous and seditious words uttered against this one and that, as well soldiers as 
freemen, advising the Company's servants to leave its service, as they could receive neither 
money nor pay ; that the Director, like the biggest liar in the country, gave fair words and 
plenty of promises, which bore no fruit, &c. ; in order to instigate the freemen not to pay 
anything, as is apparent to us by divers collected affidavits and credible testimonies, with name 
and surname, duly read in his presence ; also, that he, by his servants, endeavored, even 
before, or in the beginning of the war, to purloin either secretly or forcibly, the maize 
belonging to the Indians of Long Island at that time not yet at war with our nation, for which 
they even killed an Englishman ; whereof, contrary to two witnesses, he knows nothing. It 



350 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

appears, however, by his own confession made in our presence, on the 16 th July of this year, 
without torture or iron bands, that he had a knowledge thereof; confessing that his servants 
with soldiers had so attempted, but contrary to order and command, whereof he, however, 
hath neither since nor before complained nor given any information, which is proof enough 
that he connived at, and silently assented to it: Moreover that he exacted and took by force 
from the Indians, when they were hunting on Staten Island, a portion of their game, according 
to the sworn affidavit dated the last July A° 1G45; all which matters are of very dangerous 
consequence, tending to mutiny, defamation of justice and supreme authority, to force, 
[violence] and exaction. To this is also to be added, that he, Melyn, with one Jochim Pietersen 
Cuyter forged, conceived, drafted, and wrote on the 2S ,h October 1644, in the name of the 
Eight Selectmen, a most false and calumnious letter and caused it to be transcribed and sent 
to the Hon ble Chamber at Amsterdam, thereby clandestinely, most scandalously charging, 
defaming, criminating and accusing the Hon ble Director Kieft then in loco their governor and 
superior, of divers grave and culpable errors, as is and can be further seen and read at length 
in the original, and in the authentic copy thereof. 

Which We and our Council having investigated and inquired into, at the request of said 
Director Kieft, said calumnious letter has been found to consist in many points of false and 
defamatory lies, as is apparent and proved by experience itself, by the testimony of others 
heard to the number of fifteen, also by the declaration and answers of the co-signers. 

Whereupon the Fiscal instituting criminal action and suit, charged, accused and 
convicted said Melyn of having here committed in writing against the Hon bIe Director 
Kieft the crime of insult, defamation and falsehood, and consequently is declared guilty of 
LtiscE Majestalis. 

Which documents and proofs having been examined, investigated and inquired into by the 
Director General and Council, and everything material having been duly weighed, the case 
was found to be of very bad consequence, and ought and cannot be tolerated in a law abiding 
and well regulated government, but must be punished as an example to others. 

Wherefore, the Hon ble Petrus Stuyvesant, Director General, with the advice of his Council, 
administering justice in the name of the High and Mighty Lords States General, his Serene 
Highness the Lord Prince of Orange, and the Hon ble Directors of the General Incorporated 
West India Company, hath sentenced and condemned, as he doth hereby sentence and 
condemn, the aforesaid Cornelis Melyn, to be banished for seven years from the district 
and jurisdiction of New Netherland, and also to depart by the first ship, revoking all previous 
granted benefits, actions and pretensions which he may have obtained, or yet claims from the 
Hon ble Directors; and, moreover, to pay a fine of three hundred Carolus guilders, to be 
applied, one-third for the Poor, one-third for the Fiscal, and one-third for the Church; 
dismissing the Fiscal's further demand. 

Thus done and enacted at the Assembly, in Fort Amsterdam, in New Netherland, the 25th 
July, A° 1647. 

(Signed) P. Stuyvesant, L. van Dincklage, 

Brian Neuton, Paulus Leendertsen van der Grift, 

and Jan Claessen Bol. 

After having been collated, this is found to agree with its original, the 16 lh of August, 1649, 
by me, in the absence of the Secretary. 

(Signed) Jacob Kieft, Clerk. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS : V. 351 

No. 4. 

Mandamus in case of the Appeal of Messrs. Caytcr and Melyn. 

[Omitted; being already printed, supra, p. 250. ] 

Endorsement on the ensealed Mandamus: — 

The States General of the United Netherlands, To all those who shall see or hear this 
read, health. Be it known, 

That we, having looked into the further petition presented to us this day, in the name and 
on the behalf of Jochem Pietersen Cuyter and Cornells Melyn, our subjects and inhabitants in 
New Netherland, have enlarged, as we do hereby enlarge, the Mandamus on the other side 
hereof, to wit, that it may be served not only by a messenger, marshal, notary, but by such 
other person, either public or private, as the aforesaid petitioners together, or one of them, 
shall accept or permit. Charging and commanding all and every whom it may in any wise 
concern, to regulate themselves precisely conformably hereunto, the same as if the aforesaid 
augmentation had been inserted, word for word, in the Mandamus aforesaid. 

Done at the Hague, on the sixth of May, 1648. 

( Signed ) T. van Gent, V. 
(Lower stood) 




By order of the Most Illustrious Lords States General. 

(Signed) Corn" Musch. 
Further endorsement on the aforesaid copy, No. 4. 

Copy of their High Mightinesses' Mandamus in case of appeal against the sentence which 
Petrus Stuyvesant and his Council pronounced on the 25 th July 1647 in New Netherland on 
the Manhattans respectively against Jochem Pietersen Kuyter and Cornelis Melyn. 

No. 5. 

States General to the Director in New Netherland, and (mutatis mutandis) to the Administration there. 

[Omitted; being already printed, supra, p. 249.] 

No. 6. 

To Peter Stuyvesant, Director of New Netherland, the 19 ,h May, 1648. 

The Prince of Orange. 

Honorable, prudent, and discreet, specially dear. 

You will receive by the bearers hereof, Joachim Pietersen Kuyter and Cornelis Melyn, the 
commands which the High and Mighty Lords States General have resolved to communicate to 
you, to the end that you allow these people to enjoy their property free and unmolested 
there, by virtue of provision of appeal granted by their High Mightinesses unto them, with 



352 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Inhibitory Clause respecting the sentence pronounced by you against them on the 25th July 
1647; though we do not doubt but you will understand duly to respect and obey those 
commands, yet we are disposed earnestly to admonish you hereby, in addition, expressly 
notifying that you shall have to allow said petitioners, peaceably and without objection to enjoy 
the effect of their High Mightinesses' aforesaid resolution. 

And herewith, 

Honorable, &c. 

(Signed) William, 

Prince d'Orange. 
(Endorsed) 

Copy of his Highness' letter to Peter Stuyvesant Director in N. Netherland, 1648, 19 May. 

No. 7. 

This day, 22 d May 164S, Cornelis Melyn handed in to the Assembly of the Directors of the 

West India Company in Amsterdam, a sealed letter from their High Mightinesses the States 

General of the United Netherlands. 

Done the day as aforesaid. 

(Signed) Guysbert Rudolphy. 

This day, the 2 d January A 1649, Cornelis Melyn handed to the Director General Petrus 
Stuyvesant and the Council of New Netherland, a letter from their High Mightinesses directed 
to the Hon ble Director & Council ; one from his Highness to the Director General exclusively, 
two letters from Mr. Capelle to the Director General only. Ady as above. 

By order of the Hon' ,le Director General and Council. 

(Signed) Corn" van Tienhoven, 

Secretary. 
(Endorsed) 

Receipt for the delivery by C. Melyn of their High Mightinesses' letters, -&c, addressed 
to the Directors at the Amsterdam Chamber. Also to the Director and Council of 
New Netherland. 



No. 8. 

On the 8 th of March, 1649, when the People were assembled in the Church by order of the 
Hon ble Director General Petrus Stuyvesant, Cornelis Melyn requested that the Mandamus 
granted by their High Mightinesses may be read and served there by the Nine Men, and that 
it may be read particularly by Arnoldus van Hardenbergh. 

Whereupon, after some discussion and obtained consent, it followed that Cornelis Melyn 
handed the aforesaid Mandamus to the said Hardenbergh in order that he may read it. Then 
the General demanded, If he wished to have it served now? Cornelis Melyn answered yes. 
The General said, Then I must have the copy ; and snatched the Mandamus from the 
abovenamed Hardenbergh's hands, so that their High Mightinesses' seal fell almost entirely off, 
hardly hanging to a small strip of parchment. Cornelis Melyn said, The copy is annexed to 
it; so that on the interposition of some persons, it was returned by the General. Then was it 
received and out of respect for their High Mightinesses the Noble Lords States General and 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: V. 353 

their Commission, read by me Arnold van Hardenbergh who summoned his Honor by virtue 
thereof, to appear, by the first opportunity, at the Hague before their High Mightinesses, there 
to hear such demand and conclusion as Cornelis Melyn shall desire to institute or make against 
his Honor. 

Whereunto his Honor made answer, to the best of our recollection — / honor the States 
and their Commission, and will obey their Commands, and send an Agent to maintain the judgment, 
as it was well and legally pronounced. I demanded to have the answer in writing, but the 
General said. Whenever you deliver me an authentic copy of the Mandamus, I will give it. to you. I 
then requested Secretary Tienhoven, there present, whose duty it was, to be pleased to do so 
and to authenticate it, but he refused to do so, saying, You may do it yourself, which I afterwards 
did, and should have placed it in the General's hands next day, but a rumor prevailed that the 
Indians had killed a Dutchman, and Melyn aforesaid had gone to Staten Island; so I brought 
his Honor the copy of the Mandamus first on the 15 ,b ditto, accompanied by Augustyn Heerman 
and Jacob van Couwenhoven, and then requested his Honor's answer in writing, but he refused 
it, saying, Their High Mightinesses' award I shall regard. 

Thus done and transacted on the day and date aforesaid, at the Manhattans in 
New Netherland. 

(Signed) Arnoldus van Hardenbergh. 
Augustyn Heerman, Witness. 

Jacob van Couwenhoven, Witness. 
(Endorsed) 

Certificate of the service made on Monday the S th March 1649 on Director Petrus Stuyvesant, 
of their High Mightinesses' Mandamus in case of appeal in the matter of the judgment 
delivered the 25 th July 1647, in New Netherland, against Cornelis Melyn ; by which will 
be seen 

Stuyvesant's disrespect of their High Mightinesses' Mandamus, and his tergiversation and 
all sorts of subterfuges, on frivolous and unfounded foundations. 

No. 9. 

It is now about seven months since I arrived here with their High Mightinesses' Mandamus 
and Order, which, on the S' h March, were served on you Petrus Stuyvesant, Director, and 
afterwards on the other members of the Court. 

Accordingly on the twentieth of March I demanded reintegration, pursuant to the tenor of the 
Mandamus, and observing neglect, on the 20 th June, insisted and at divers times applied 
verbally, for the most part, in these terms — Pursuant to the Mandamus and your obligation to 
honor their High Mightinesses and their Commission (I demand) reintegration and such 
satisfaction as that brings with it; I have now borne long enough with postpone. nent and 
fruitless promises; time is short and the vessels are making ready; if your Honor designs to 
make restitution or reparation, let it be done quickly, according to the tenor of the Mandamus; 
if not, I hereby protest against you. 

And if your Honor intends to maintain what, if you have yet any conscience left, you cannot 
deny to be your Honor's pronounced sentence, you must appear personally, or by another 
qualified to represent you and will so stand and suffer and bear what is charged against you, 
as if you were yourself there; you shall also permit the other member of the court, who 

Vor.. I. 45 



354 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

is subject to you, to depart in person, or some other individual for him ; for one delinquent 
cannot defend the other; and in case such be not done, I do hereby again protest. 

I demand, according to your Honor's promise, that all copies both of judgment, affidavits, 
acts and proceedings which have been heretofore refused, be seasonably furnished me, in order 
that I may also summqn the deponents; for the affidavits which Mynheer, or his like, take here 
from their subjects, who must say what you please, are, in my opinion of no value and, as I, 
therefore, conclude, of no force in law. In case, then, all the documents proceedings and 
declarations, or one or any of them, which are to be used in law against me, are detained from 
me ; and in case they are refused me, and copies of the papers and documents are not furnished, 
as heretofore has been the case, I declare that I am deprived of, and excluded from the right 
and proper means of justice and legal evidence, against rules and order to you well known. 

In like manner I do declare null, void, and of no effect all acts, proceedings, affidavits and 
declarations whereof I have not obtained copies here, and of which use shall hereafter be made 
against me, being utterly unworthy of consideration on account of the suspicion of being 
acknowledged in bad faith ; and, thirdly, against you, Petrus Stuyvesant, Director, individually, 
and against all the members of the Court generally, do I protest for and on account of all 
damage and losses already suffered or yet to arise, from the omission and neglect of orders 
and instructions to do what is right; and their High Mightinesses command and expressly 
order you, in case you do not repent, to wit, sincerely and indeed, and not in fine phrases, as 
has hitherto been your case. 

Dated Manahatans, New Netherland, this 29 th July, 1649. 

(Signed) Cornelis Melyn. 

Answer to Cornelis Melyn's disrespectful Protest handed to my Wife, as she 
says, by Adriaeu van der Donck and A. Hardenbergh. 

We hear and see, but protest against the disrespectful discourtesies contained in the protest, 
especially against the seditious service of the Mandamus, at an unsuitable place, in the Church, 
and with much disparaging language in presence of the entire Commonalty. Nevertheless, 
we esteem the service valid, and say, as before, that we shall honor and regard whatever our 
Sovereigns will decide. We are no ways bound to restitution, since we have not received 
anything; nor to any reparation so long as the case is in appeal, and no additional injury done 
the protestor. We grant and allow him peaceable use of his lands and effects; what I have 
promised I shall perform; namely, to send an Attorney to hear, and to witness the confirmation 
or annulment ; what other officers, councillors, will do, whether to go or to stay, we leave at 
their discretion and pleasure. Therein we have nothing to command; neither does it quadrate 
with the tenor of the Mandamus. 

Who the delinquent is, God and the law have to decide. The protestor has never been 
refused copy of the judgment. The party must apply for the other papers in the suit and 
appear before the Judge who will have prudence and knowledge enough to decide what and 
which affidavits ought to be produced ; whether they have been legally taken before 
Commissioners or whether they were given clandestinely and by inducement to affront and 
asperse the Judge, on which points the opinion of the protestor himself is of no avail. Of 
damage and losses we deem ourselves guiltless, since we do not oblige the protestor to pay 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: V. 355 

any costs, or to retnrn anew to Fatherland. We give and grant him, pending the matter in 
appeal, the quiet possession and peaceable use of his lands, houses and property. 
Done Manhattans this 1" August, 1649. 

(Signed) P. Stuyvesant. 
(Endorsed) 

Protest on behalf of Cornelis Melyn against Director Stuyvesant, and the Answer of 
Stuy vesant that he would send an Attorney ; refuses the Protester's demand for copies of the 
papers to be used against him, as they must be applied for by the party. 

No. 10. 

We, the undersigned, at the request of Cornelis Melyn, and in virtue of certain Mandamus 
granted him by their High Mightinesses, did, on the sixteenth of March, 10-19, summon the 
Hon ble Lubbert van Dincklage, Vice-Director of New Netherland, to appear by the first 
opportunity at the Hague, before their High Mightinesses, there to hear such demand and 
conclusion as Cornelis Melyn shall institute or make against him ; and copy of the aforesaid 
Mandamus is left with the defendant. 

Whereunto he made answer: That he was led into error, and consequently induced to vote 
for such sentence, by not having communication of divers affidavits and other papers and 
documents, which, as he now discovers, were essential to the defence of the condemned ; also, 
by its being resolved, at the meeting of Director Stuyvesant and other persons, called to the 
Council for that occasion, that Jochem Pietersen Kuyter and Cornelis Melyn, were not 
qualified, and therefore had no power to write about public affairs; whilst affidavits and 
papers tending to their prejudice and injury, were, on the contrary, duly exhibited to him in 
the council. 

Done as above, on the Manhatans, in New Netherland, etc. 

(Signed) Arnoldus van Hardenbergh. 
Adriaen van der Donck. 
(Endorsed) 

Anno 1649, 16 March. Return of service made on Lubbert van Dincklage, Vice-Director of 
their High Mightinesses' Mandamus, in case of appeal from the sentence pronounced in New 
Netherland, on 17 th July, 1647, against Jochem Pietersen Kuyter and Cornelis Melyn. 

Whereunto he made answer that he was deceived: — 

1° That he had not communication of divers papers essential to the defence of those 
condemned. 

2 d That Director Stuyvesant and others called by him to the Council for that occasion, 
resolved that Joachim Pietersen Kuyter and Cornelis Melyn, were not qualified to write on 
public affairs. 

3 d That he was misled and brought to vote for the aforesaid sentence by affidavits produced 
in court, prejudicial to the condemned persons. 

No. 11. 

On the 16 th March, 1649, at the request of Cornelis Melyn, and in virtue of certain 
Mandamus granted him by their High Mightinesses, have I, the undersigned, in presence of 
Adriaen van der Donck and Jacob van Couwenhoven, summoned the following persons to 



356 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

appear at the Hague before their High Mightinesses, by the first opportunity, there to hear and 
answer such demand and conclusion as Cornells Melyn shall then make or institute against 
them, viz' — 

1 st Monsieur La Montague: And his answer was — that Cornells Melyn should first give 
reasons for summoning him, and he should then communicate his answer. Done as above, 
on the Manhattans, in New Netherland. 

2° Brian Nuton, Captain Lieutenant: And he gave for answer — he did not understand it 
and will answer to-morrow. Done as above. 

3 d Pauius Lenuhr/sm: And he gave for answer — that he will appear, or send an attorney, 
provided Cornells Melyn give security here in this place, for the costs which will accrue 
thereon. Done as above. 

4 ,h Abraham Plancke: And he made answer — that he knew nothing about when the 
war commenced. 

Tims done, on the day and date as above ; and left copy of the aforesaid Mandamus for the 
benefit of the defendants, in presence of the undersigned witnesses, at the Manhattans, in 
New Netherland. 

(Signed) Arnoldus van Hardenbergh. 

Adriaen van der Donck. 

* Jacob van Kouwenhoven. 

( Endorsed) 

Return of service, made the 16 lh March, 1049, on the undernamed persons, in virtue of their 
High Mightinesses Mandamus, in case of appeal on the judgment pronounced on the 25 lh July, 
1617, against Cornells Melyn ; who made answer as folio weth : — 

Jean La Montagne, demands cause of summons, and he would then answer. 

Brian Nuton, Captain Lieutenant, does not understand it, and will answer to-morrow. 

Pauius Leendersen, that he will send an attorney or appear himself, when Melyn will give 
security there for the costs. 

Abraham Plancke, one of those who had signed the petition to make war on the Indians, 
says; he knew nothing about when the war began. 

No. 12. 

On the sixteenth of March, did I, the undersigned, accompanied by Adriaen van der 
Donck and Jacob van Couwenhoven, at the request of Cornells Melyn, and in virtue of 
certain Mandamus granted him by their High Mightinesses, summon the Fiscal, Hendrick van 
Dyck, to appear, by the first opportunity, before their High Mightinesses, at the Hague, and 
there to hear such demand and conclusion as Cornells Melyn shall make or institute against 
him, and left copy of aforesaid Mandamus for the behoof of the defendant. Whereunto he 
wrote to me as follows — Henrick van Dyck, Fiscal of New Netherland, in answer to the 
Mandamus, served on him by me, at the request of Cornells Melyn, says, that he is not a 
party in the suit. 

Thus given, in the presence of the undersigned witnesses, dated as above, Anno 1C49, at 
the Manhattans, in New Netherland. 

(Signed) Arnoldus van Hardenbergh. 

Adrian van der Donk. 

Jacob van Kouwenhoven. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS : V. 357 

(Endorsed) 

Return of service of their High Mightinesses Mandamus, in the case of appeal on the 
judgment pronouced against Cornells Melyn, made on Fiscal Hendrick van Dyck, who 
instituted the suit, A° 1647. Whose answer was: — 

Anno 1649, March 16. He was not a party to the suit. 

No. 13. 

On the 23 d March, 1649, did we, the undersigned, at the request of Cornells Melyn, 
and in virtue of certain Mandamus granted unto him by their High Mightinesses, summon 
Secretary Cornelis van Tienhoven, to appear by the first opportunity, before their High 
Mightinesses, at the Hague, there to hear such demand and conclusion as Cornelis Melyn, 
on the occasion, shall institute; but the aforesaid Tienhoven refused to answer thereunto 
and to accept the copy of aforesaid Mandamus, until he should see that we had special and 
written order from Cornelis Melyn to summon him. 

And as we had it not with us, we brought it to him on the next morning, with copy of 
aforesaid Mandamus; then the aforesaid Secretary, said that he would give us his answer in 
writing; in the afternoon ; but we did not get it. We applied to him for it repeatedly 
afterwards, but could never obtain any correct information in answer, as he always sought 
evasions and delays. Finally, he said he would not give any. So that we took no farther 
action, after that, in the matter. 

The 25th May, 1649, at the Manhattans, in New Netherland. 

(Signed) Arnoldus van Hardenbergh. 
Adriaen van der Donck. 
(Endorsed) 

Return of the service of their High Mightinesses' Mandamus in case of appeal from the 
sentence pronounced on Cornelis Melyn the 25 lh July, 1647, in New Netherland, made on 
Cornelis van Tienhoven Secretary, the 23 March and 25 May, 1649. 

Tienhoven refuses to make any answer to it. 

No. 14. 

On the 23 J March, 1649, did I, the undersigned, at the request of Cornelis Melyn, and in 
virtue of certain Mandamus granted by their High Mightinesses unto him, summon Jan Jansen 
Damen in the presence of Adriaen van der Donck, to appear by the first opportunity before 
their High Mightinesses at the Hague, there to hear such demand and conclusion, as Cornelis 
Melyn shall have occasion to institute. 

Whereupon the aforesaid Jan Damen gave for answer, that whenever Cornelis Melyn 
exhibited to him their High Mightinesses' order wherein his name appeared, that he then is 
perfectly ready to come whether by night or by day ; provided he (to wit, Melyn) give security 
for the loss and damages to be incurred thereby. 

Thus done on the day and date aforesaid at the Manhattans in New Netherland, 

(Signed) Arnoldus van Hardenbergh. 
Adriaen van der Donck. 



358 NEW- YORK COLONTAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

(Endorsed) 

Return of the service and summons made on Jan Jansen Damen, on the 23 d March, 1649, in 
virtue of their High Mightinesses' Mandamus in case of appeal from the sentence pronounced 
in New Netherland, on 25 th July, 1649, against Cornells Melyn. 

1C49, 23 March. Answer: Is ready to come whenever he is served with their High 
Mightinesses' Mandamus, containing his name, and Melyn gives security for the costs. 

No. 15. 

We the undersigned, Lubberlus van Dincklage and Johannes la Montagne, declare that 
a petition was delivered to the Director and Council at the meeting in Fort Amsterdam in 
New Netherland from Jacobus Loper, late Captain Lieutenant at Curacao, requesting permit 
to trade and barter, along with other freemen, in the South river of New Netherland, and that 
the Hon b,e Director said — He had received express orders from his superiors to keep an eye 
on Melyn. 

The Council demanded — Shall the sins of the father then be visited on the son ? The Director 
said further, It cannot be otherwise this time; he shall not go. 

We declare the above to be true and trustworthy on our manly troth in place of oath which, 

if necessary, we shall tender. This 10 lh August, 1649. Manhatans, New Amsterdam, New 

Netherland. 

(Signed) L. van Dincklage. 

La Montagne. 
(Endorsed) 

Declaration of Vice-director Lubbert van Dincklage and La Montagne, from which it 
appears — 

That Director Stuyvesant said he had received express orders from his Masters to have an 
eye on Melyn, which Stuyvesant stretched so far as to refuse a license to trade to Jacob Loper 
ex-Captain Lieutenant and son-in-law of Melyn. 

No. 16. 

This day the 10 th December Anno 1619 before me Cornells Toun, resident of Amsterdam 
and admitted Notary public by the Court of Holland, in presence of the undersigned witnesses, 
appeared William Hendricks, aged 42 years, residing at Weesp, who, at the request of 
Cornells Melyn residing in New Netherland, on Staten Island, testifies, declares and attests 
by true words, in place and under offer, of solemn oath, that it is true that he, the witness, 
being in the latter part of the year 1640, on the island called the Manhatans, also situated in 
New Netherland, was engaged by the month, by William Kieft, Commander of New Netherland, 
to distil Brandy, and at the house of the requirant in this case. 

That he, witness, accordingly in the beginning of December of the aforesaid year 1640, did 
begin to distil Brandy at the requirant's bouse, but having continued therein six or seven months, 
he, the witness, must give up that work, as the aforesaid Kieft and the requirant found it 
expedient to let the Brandy be. 

He further declares that the aforesaid Commander Kieft himself paid and made good to him, 
witness, his wages at five and twenty guilders per month, and that he, witness, did, also, during 
the six or seven months aforesaid, convey some kegs of brandy and other liquors from said 
Staten Island to the Manhathans, and delivered the same to the aforesaid Commander Kieft. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: V. 359 

All truly done at Amsterdam, in the presence of Harmen Harmensen Cruyer and Cryn 
Cornelissen, mason, witnesses, who have likewise signed, with the aforesaid deponent, the 
original minute hereof remaining with me notary, 

Quod attestor 

(Signed) C. Tou Notar. Publ. 
(Endorsed) 

Declaration of William Hendricksen for Cornelis Melyn, in opposition to the denial of 

William Kieft, that the deponent distilled brandy for C. Melyn and Kieft in Company. 

All these aforesaid acts and declarations have I, the undersigned Notary, found, 
after comparison to agree with their originals; at the Hague the 5 lh February A°. 
1650. Me teste. 

(Signed) M. Beeckman, Notar Publ. 



Resolution of the States General, referring the preceding papers. 

[ From the Register of West India Affairs, 1638—1651, in the Royal Archives at the Hngue. ] 

Tuesday, S ,h February, 1650. 
Fono 529. The petition of Cornelis Melyn, patroon on Staten Island in New Netherland, 

Comeiis Meiyn. is after previous deliberation placed, with the pieces thereunto annexed, in the 
hands of Mess" van Aertsbergen and other their High Mightinesses' Deputies for the West 
India Company's affairs, in order to inspect and examine them, and to hear again and again 
the petitioner and Secretary Cornelis van Tienhoven actually here at the Hague, and to render 
a report of the whole to their High Mightinesses. 



Secretary van TienhoverHs Observations on the Boundary and Colonization of 

New Netherland. 

[ From the Original in the Royal Archives at the Hague ; Locketkas of the States General ; Division, West Tndische Compagnie, No. 80 ; 8th division 

of the Bundle. ] 

Observations on the settlement of the boundary, and on the colonization of New 
Netherland. Furnished 22' 1 February, 1650. 

The settlement of the boundary is highly necessary, in order to avoid, in future, all difficulties 
with those of New England and Virginia; it will also promote the quiet of the Dutch Nation 
in New Netherland, as many would be thereby encouraged to undertake Colonies, Bouweries 
and Plantations, in that country. 

This settlement of the boundary was, in my opinion, not easy to be obtained before the 
present time, in consequence of the troubles in England; the rather, as those of Virginia 
declare for Charles the Second, and those of New England for the Parliament. 



ggo NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

In order then to block the further progress of the English, I would suggest (under 
correction), that we should provisionally set about hitching on to New Netherland the most 
distant lands lying between the Dutch Nation and the English, which are yet vacant and in no 
one's possession, by the occupation thereof in manner hereinafter described. 

1st. Having been plainly tricked by the English out of the Fresh River, notwithstanding a 
block house, called the Hope, had been erected 21 leagues up the river, in the year 1633, long 
before the English had been there, — a sign of first and earliest possession — nothing could, at 
first, be done in that quarter, except to repair said house, the Hope, and keep it as heretofore 
occupied by a suitable garrison, for the purpose of maintaining prior possession of the most 
remote boundary. 

2nd. The village of Greenwich belonging to their High Mightinesses', being the furthest 
place where the Director and Council exercise authority, in the name of their High 
Mightinesses the States General and of the West India Company, is separated from the 
English village Stamford, by a small stream ; so that the English along the main north coast 
cannot approach nearer New Netherland, without being obliged to settle between Greenwich 
and New Amsterdam, where there is an interval of about seven leagues of country: And to 
prevent that, Director Stuyvesant purchased these lands last summer from the native and right 
owners thereof, and paid for them, on account of the West India Company. 

3d. For the security of the beautiful North river, on which New Amsterdam stands, it 
would not be unwise to take possession first of the land situate on the west bank of the East 
river, between Greenwich and New Amsterdam, establishing villages, bouweries and plantations 
there ; this done, there need be no dread of the further progress of the English on that side, and 
the North river, whence most of the peltries are brought down, would also be protected. The 
North river is about eight leagues west of the East river at Greenwich. 

4th. Long Island which extends in length from the heights opposite Staten Island, is washed 
on the south side by the Great Ocean ; on the north, by the East river, which divides it from 
New Amsterdam and the aforementioned lands. It is full thirty leagues long from the west to 
the northeastern point, and at the west end 2, and further eastward 4, 8, 12 and 15 leagues 
broad. It is the levelest and finest soil in New Netherland ; very well adapted for agriculture 
and the rearing of all sorts of cattle; furnished with beautiful valleys, navigable harbors, 
rivers and bays, the chief of which are Hempstead bay, Martin Gerritsen's bay, Oyster bay, the 
Cromme gouw, 1 being a considerable inland sea, 2 ((whose shores are inhabited by Indians,) and 
in which are various other fair and fertile islands. The greatest part of the Wampum, for 
which the furs are traded, is manufactured there by the Natives. 

The English of the Colony of New Haven settled two villages at the bight of the aforesaid 
inland sea, about three leagues from the East point of said Island ; one called Southampton, 
containing about 10 (al 12 houses, [the other] Southold, about 30 houses. 

The undernamed towns are planted on said Island, and are all under the jurisdiction of 
their High Mightinesses the Lords States General of the United Netherlands, viz' 

Hemsteede, Gravesend, Flushing, Amersfoort, and Breukelen, with divers bouweries 
and plantations. 

The further progress of the English on Long Island would, in my opinion, under correction 
be prevented and estopped, without the settlement of the boundary, by the following means: — 

' Tbe Crooked country or district 2 Gardiner's bay. — Ed. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: V. ggl 

First, by purchasing from the natives the lands situate on the East point of Long Tsland, 
not already bought; that done, by taking possession of the East point which is about three 
leagues from Southampton, and by securing its possession, at first by a Redoubt and a small 
garrison, or settling it by means of a Colonie. The west point of the aforesaid sea being taken 
possession of in like manner, the villages of Southampton and Southold would be shut in; 
after this is accomplished, Siketeu Hacky, Oyster bay and Martin Gerritsen's bay must also 
be taken possession of. The whole of Long Island would be thereby secured to New Netherland, 
and the design of the English in regard to the domination of said convenient harbors, be rendered 
fruitless and null. 

The South river, situate thirty leagues south of the Great Bay of the North river, as 
computed along the coast, has been possessed and frequented by the Dutch more than 
twenty-eight years before any foreign nation had been there. Ten years ago the Swedes 
lined said river with four forts, and, by means thereof, endeavor to seize on the entire river. 

The further progress of the Swedes, could be prevented and neutralized by planting a 
Colonie at Swanendael, otherwise called the Whorekill, on the west side of the Bay; another 
on the east side; and one on the west bank, at the Company's Redoubt, named Beversreede, 
about seven leagues above Fort Cristina. This being done, the Swedes could not take up 
any more land, either above or below, nor extend their pretended jurisdiction any farther. 

No difference has arisen between the Dutch and the English of Virginia on the subject of 
boundary, because they have not owned what we, Netherlander, possess. However, it would 
not be impolitic to determine the boundary between Virginia and New Netherland, so that all 
future misunderstandings and differences on this head may be prevented. 

The settlement of the boundary by possession can never be effected, except by sending out 
working people and disbursing money necessary for such work ; and in order to encourage 
those who are able to make disbursements, firm and permanent privileges should be granted, 
consistent with the right accruing from the charter granted to the West India Company. 

For the conveyance of farmers and their families, and of handicraftsmen, 
are required: — 

A large fly-boat of 200 lasts, which would be chartered for the voyage out, for fl. 6000. 

A vessel of 200 lasts, would probably carry over 2-50 persons, exclusive of the ships crew ; 
they would require for food, for the voyage, each at least 30 guilders, fl. 7500. 

Every 250 farmers would require a superintendent. 

A clergyman; or, in his place provisionally, a Comforter of the sick, who could also act as 
schoolmaster. 

A surgeon, provided with medicines. 

A blacksmith, who is conversant with the treatment of horses and cattle. 

Three or four house-carpenters, who can lay brick. 

One cooper. 

One wheelwright. 

Other tradesmen, such as tailors and shoemakers, follow with time. 

A necessary supply of munitions of war, for the defence of the Colonists, in case of 
misunderstanding with the natives. 

Vol. I. 46 



362 NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Farming implements, such as axes, adzes, mattocks, spades, rope, ploughshares, &c. 

These people arriving in New Netherland would require to be victualed for at least a year; 
for little produce is to be expected the second year, from the newly cultivated land. It is not 
necessary to send the food from Europe, since it can be supplied by the Dutch and the 
English. Oil and vinegar alone must come from here. 

Cattle, such as horses, cows, hogs, need not be sent from this place, in consequence of the 
great expense, as they can be be got at a reasonable price from the Dutch, and principally 
among the English, who have plenty of them. 

The foregoing is what I, with all submission, briefly, and according to my imperfect 
knowledge, communicate on paper to your High Mightinesses on the subject of the settlement 
of the Boundaries by possession, such as peopling it with one or more Colonies in New 
Netherland. I pray the All-wise God, to preside over your High Mightinesses' Assembly, and 
to be pleased to permit your resolutions to redound to the honor of his name, the prosperity 
of his Church and to the peace of your High Mightinesses' subjects. 

Done at the Hague, the 22 d February, Anno 1650. 

Your High Mightinesses' subject, 

(Signed) Cornelis van Tienhoven. 



-♦♦♦-♦-•—•- 



Plan for the Colonization of New Netherland. 

I From the MS. In tho Royal Archives at the Ilague ; Lohelkan of tho Stales General ; Rubric West Indischt CrnnpaqMe No. 30/ 8lh division o< 

the Bundle.] 

New Netherland. 

The Directors deputed by the West India Company do not deem it expedient to conjointly 
advise your High Mightinesses in the present instance on the affairs of New Netherland, and the 
places thereunto belonging, inasmuch as the superintendence thereof has hitherto been with 
the Chamber at Amsterdam, which, also specially declares its opinion thereupon, as to the 
manner that superintendence ought to be directed in future for the greatest advantage. The 
other Chambers have merely requested copy thereof, to be communicated to their constituents, 
with the understanding, however, that the aforesaid Amsterdam Chamber shall, meanwhile, 
remain and continue invested with the aforesaid superintendence, and provisionally put in 
practice, as far as possible, the following advice :■— 

Provisional Plan for the Trade, Colonizatian and advantage of New Netherland, 
and of the Island of Curacao, Bonayro and Aruba, dependent on the said 
government. 

Which places have been managed exclusively by the Chamber of Amsterdam from the year 
1645 up to the date hereof, although it was resolved in the Assembly of the XIX., on the 6 th 
July of the same year, that they should be under the superintendence of the Chambers in 
common. With this view, an estimate was computed of the expense of Director Stuyvesant's 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: V. 363 

outfit, which was divided according to tiie quota to be furnished by each Chamber respectively. 
In the meantime, the Chamber at Amsterdam undertook to fit out at its own cost two ships, 
namely the Frinccsse and Groote Gerrit. Afterwards, however, in October following, at the 
meeting of the XIX., in Zealand, it happened that some Chambers found it difficult to share 
the expense, and thus this superintendence has remained exclusively to this date with the 
Chamber at Amsterdam. 

Again, the Committee of the Amsterdam Chamber considered 'twould be better that those 
countries should remain bound to all the Chambers in common, but as trading to these places 
in rotation could not conveniently be carried into execution, the Commissioners, subject to a 
better decision, were of opinion, that it would be best, that the outfitting should remain with 
the Amsterdam Chamber, and be done through its Commissioners, to be appointed for that 
purpose, to whom likewise all returns must be consigned under bond that they be responsible 
to the respective Chambers, to appropriate to each its contingent proportion. 

Now, in order to be able properly to provide good order and necessaries for those coasts, and 
to supply them with troops for the defence of the four forts in New Netherland and one at 
Curagao, we consider that the garrisoning of the first four requires 100 men under the 
command of sub-officers, as the country is at peace ; 12 soldiers only need be sent to the last 
place under a commander at low wages. 

To carry out the above, we judge the sum of fl to be necessary. As the 

respective Chambers might consider this amount burdensome, it must be decided whether it 
shall be raised on interest at 4 per cent, pledging for both principal and interest all the 
effects and returns coming thence, together with the whole Territory still belonging to 
the Company, and not conveyed to Colonists ; and especially the Island of Manhatans. 

As the islands of Curasao, Bonaire and Aruba have been found for many years to be only 
a burden to the Company, not producing any profit, we have, therefore, considered whether it 
would not be well to request permission of the Supreme government to give up said Islands: 
but if such were not feasible, 'twould, in our opinion, be best, to permit every one to establish 
Colonies on said Islands, to distribute and concede the land free of rent, and to allow all to 
cut Logwood on paying a duty of ; that every one, no matter of what nation, 

shall be at liberty to bring from said Island, as many horses and as much salt as he may think 

proper on payment of duty, namely, for the horses fl per head ; and for each 

/asiofsaltfl ; provided neither horses nor salt be conveyed to any other place 

than New Netherland. 

As for the last mentioned country, we consider little or no change necessary in regard to 
Colonists who have planted Colonies there already, but to permit them to enjoy the Freedoms 
granted on the in the year 1(530. 

But as those Colonists formerly complained that they were not allowed to export the products 
of their lands for their own benefit beyond the territory of New Netherland, they were permitted 
to export such produce in their own ships to Brazil, on condition that they should not return 
thence to New Netherland again with any Brazilian products. 

This should in our opinion be enlarged ; so that said Traders on disposing of their produce 
and crops in any of the Company's districts, shall be privileged to come back with their 
ships and returns to the place whence they sailed, on condition of paying the duties to be 
imposed thereon. 



3G4 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Also, that the Inhabitants of New Netherland shall be at liberty to purchase Negroes 
wheresoever they may think necessary, except the coast of Guinea, and bring them into New 
Netherland to work on their bouweries, on payment of a duty of fl . . . . per head. 

We should above, all things consider it necessary to provide ways and means ; we are of 
opinion that permission should be obtained from the Magistrates of some Provinces and Cities, 
to take from the alms-houses or orphan asylums 300 (a). 400 boys and girls of 10, 12 to 15 years 
of age, witli their consent, however, and that their passage and board could be procured for fl. 50 
or GO per head. With that recognition a large ship might be chartered, suitable for the 
conveyance of horses and salt from Curasao and afterwards return hither with a cargo of 
Logwood. It must be, further, declared that said children shall not remain bound to their 
masters for a longer term than 6 or 7 years, unless being girls, they come, meanwhile, to marry, 
in which event they should have the option of hiring again with their masters or mistresses, 
or of remaining wholly at liberty and of settling there, on condition that they be allowed so 
much land as the Director shall consider it proper each should have for the support of her 
family, free from all rents and exemptions for the term of 10 years after entering on such land ; 
but the inhabitants shall have, after the lapse of the aforesaid term of years, the tenth of 
their incomes. 

Now, it will be in the highest degree necessary, to endeavor some settlement of Boundary 
with the English on any terms whatsoever; and as no opportunity might offer for the negotiation 
of any Boundary line either in the name of King or Parliament, or of existing Powers, in 
consequence of violent interruptions in the government of England, we should not deem it 
unwise to empower the Director to agree provisionally, with our neighbors the English on 
some line of Boundary, for which they themselves have made overtures, subject to the 
approbation of each of the principals. 



Public Charges in New JEn gland. 

I From the Original in the Royal Archives at the Hague; Loketkas of the States General ; Rubric West IndUche Compagnie, No. 30; 8th division 

of the Bundle. ] 

Taxes payable by the English in New England. Delivered in by Secretary 
Tienhoven, 3 d March, 1650. 

In New England all the property and means of the people, as well of the highest as the 
lowest, are appraised by the Magistrates, and taxed according to each one's ability ; for the 

Pay of the Governor, Deputy Governor, Magistrates, Secretaries, Marshals and Constables. 

Pay of Military Officers who exercise the inhabitants continually under arms. The military 
officers are Majors, Captains, Lieutenants, Ensigns, &c. 

Salary and residence of the minister and schoolmaster. 

Erection of churches and school-houses, and repairs thereof. 

For all city and town edifices. 

For the construction and repairs of all bridges over the rivers along the highways. 

For the erection and repairs of all ordinaries for travelers. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: V. 365 

For the maintenance of the University at Boston, and its accessories. 

The people must also defray the expenses incurred by the General Assemblies which are 
held in each province respectively, four times a year, and the General Court once a year. This 
Assembly continues a long time. 

In the event of war occurring, as was the case a few years ago against the Pequatoos and 
other Indians, all the towns are obliged to furnish as many soldiers at their expense, at the 
place of rendezvous, as the General Court indicates, on condition of the latter providing their 
pay, rations and ammunition. 

The foregoing are the burthens which New England has, to my own knowledge, to defray. 

Ady, 2 d March. 



Information respecting Land in New Netherland. 

[ From the Original in the Royal Archives at the Hague; Loketkas of the States General ; Rubric West Indisclte Compagnie, No. 80; 9th division 

of the Bundle.] 

Information relative to taking upland in New Netherland, in the form of Colonies 
or private bouweries. Delivered in by Secretary van Tienhoven, on the 4 ,h 
of March, 1050. 

If any one be disposed to begin either by himself or others, Colonies, Bouweries or 
Plantations in New Netherland, which lies in the latitude of one and forty degrees and a half, 
he shall first have to inform himself fully of the situation of the lands lying on the rivers, 
havens and bays, in order thus to select the most suitable, and particularly the most convenient 
grounds: It is therefore to be borne in mind, that the lands in New Netherland are not all 
level and flat, and adapted to raising of grain, inasmuch as they are, with the exception of 
some few flats, generally covered with timber, in divers places also with large and small stones. 

In order, then first to describe those lands which are actually the most convenient and 
the best and ought to be occupied the earliest, where and how located, I shall enumerate 
the following places, and commend the remainder to the consideration of proprietors of 
this country. 

I begin then at the most easterly corner of Long Island, being a point situate on the Main 
Ocean, inclosing within, westward, a large inland sea, 1 adorned with divers fair havens and 
bays, fit for all sorts of craft; this point is entirely covered with trees, without any flats, 
and is somewhat hilly and stony, very convenient for cod fishing, which is most successfully 
followed by the natives during the season. 

This point is also well adapted to secure the trade of the Indians in Wampum, (the mine of 
New Netherland,) since in and about the abovementioned sea and the islands therein situate, 
lie the cockles whereof Wampum is made, from which great profit could be realized by those 
who would plant a colonie or hamlet at the aforesaid Point, for the cultivation of the land, for 
raising all sorts of cattle, for fishing and the wampum trade. 

1 Gardner's Bay. — Ed. 



g 6 Q NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

It would be necessary, in such case, to settle on the aforesaid land some persons thoroughly 
conversant with agriculture, and others with the fishery. 

Oysterbay, so called from the great abundance of fine and delicate oysters which are found 
there, is about a short league across, or in width at the mouth ; deep and navigable, without 
either rocks or sands, runs inland nearly west, and divides itself into two rivers, which are 
broad and clear, on which lie some fine maize lands, formerly cultivated by the Indians, some 
of which are still worked ; they could be had for a trifle. This land is situate on such 
beautiful bay and rivers, that it could, at little cost, 'be converted into good farms, fit for the 
plough; there are here, also, some fine hay-valleys. 

Martin Gerritsen's bay or Marti nnehouck, is much deeper and wider than Oyster bay, and runs 
westward in, divides into three rivers, two of which are navigable; the smallest stream 
runs up in front of the Indian village, called Martinne houck, where they have their 
plantations. This tribe is not strong, and consists of about 30 families. There were formerly 
in and about this bay, great numbers of Indian Plantations, which now lie waste and vacant. 
This land is mostly level, and of good quality, well adapted for grain and rearing of all sorts 
of cattle; on the rivers are numerous valleys of sweet and salt meadows; all sorts of river 
fish are also caught there. 

Schout's bay, on the East river, is also very open and navigable, with one river running into 
it; on said river are also fine maize lands, level and not stony, with right beautiful valleys. 
Beyond said river is a very convenient hook of land, somewhat large, encircled by a large valley 
and river, where all descriptions of cattle can be reared and fed, such convenience being a great 
accommodation for the settlers, who otherwise must search for their cattle frequently several 
days in the bush. 

The country on the East river between Greenwich and the island Manhattans, is for the 
most part covered with trees, but yet flat and suitable land, with numerous streams and valleys, 
right good soil for grain, together with fresh hay, and meadow, lands. 

JViequaeskcc/c, on the North river, five leagues above New Amsterdam, is very good and suitable 
land for agriculture, very extensive maize land, on which the Indians have planted — proceeding 
from the shore and inland 'tis flat and mostly level, well watered by small streams and running 
springs. It lies between the East and North rivers and is situate between a rivulet of Sintinck 
and Armonck. 1 

In the Bay of the North river, about two leagues from Sandy Hook, lies an inlet or small bay; 
on the south shore of said bay, called Neyswcsinck, there are also right good maize lands which 
have not been cultivated by the natives for a long time. This distiict is well adapted for 
raising and feeding all sorts of cattle, and is esteemed by many not ill adapted for fisheries; a 
good trade in furs could also be carried on there, and 'tis likewise accessible to all large vessels 
coming from sea, which are often obliged to lie to or anchor behind Sandy Hook, either in 
consequence of contrary winds, or for want of a pilot. 

The district inhabited by a nation called Raritangs, is situate on a fresh water river, that 
flows through the centre of the low land which the Indians cultivated. This vacant territory 
lies between two high mountains, far distant the one from the other. It is the handsomest and 
pleasantest country that man can behold, and furnished the Indians with abundance of maize, 

1 This tract extends across the county of Westchester, from Sing Sing to the Byram river. Bolton's History of Westchester 
Comity, I., 2. — Ed. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: V. 3G7 

beans, pumpkins, and other fruits. This district was abandoned by the natives for two reasons ; 
the first and principal is, that finding themselves unable to resist the Southern Indians, they 
migrated further inland ; the second, because this country was flooded every spring like 
Renselaer's colonie, frequently spoiling and destroying their supplies of maize which were 
stored in holes under ground. 

Through this valley pass large numbers of all sorts of tribes, on their way north or east* this 
land is therefore not only adapted for raising grain and rearing all description of cattle, but 
also very convenient for trade with the Indians. 

On both sides of the South bay and South river also lie some handsome lands, not only 
suitable, but very convenient for agriculture and trade. • 

I have already stated where the first Colonists should, in my opinion, settle, regard being 
bad to the convenience of those lands in the possession of which other nations being anticipated, 
they would not be able to extend their pretended limits further, and great peace and security 
would be afforded to the inhabitants. I shall here further state the time when those emigrating 
hence, to and arriving in New Netherland will take up land, and how each will afterwards 
earn a living and settle in the most economical manner according to the fashion of the country. 

Boors and others who are obliged to work at first in Colonies ought to sail from this country 
in the fore or latter part of winter, in order to arrive with God's help in New Netherland 
early in the Spring, in March, or at latest in April, so as to be able to plant, during that summer, 
garden vegetables, maize and beans, and moreover employ the whole summer in clearing land 
and building cottages, as I shall hereafter describe. 

All then who arrive in New Netherland must immediately set about preparing the soil, so 
as to be able, if possible to plant some winter grain, and to proceed the next winter to 
cut and clear the timber. The trees are usually felled from the stump, cut up and burnt in 
the field, unless such as are suitable for building, for palisades, posts and rails, which must be 
prepared during the winter, so as to be set up in the spring on the new made land which is 
intended to be sown, in order that the cattle may not in any wise injure the crops. In most 
lands is found a certain root, called red Wortel, which must before ploughing, be extirpated 
with a hoe, expressly made for that purpose. This being done in the winter, some plough 
right around the stumps, should time or circumstances not allow these to be removed; others 
plant tobacco, maize and beans, at first. The soil even thus becomes very mellow, and they 
sow winter grain the next fall. From tobacco, can be realized some of the expenses incurred 
in clearing the land. The maize and beans help to support both men and cattle. The farmer 
having thus begun, must endeavor, every year, to clear as much new land as he possibly can, 
and sow it with such seed as he considers most suitable. 

It is not necessary that the husbandman should take up much stock in the beginning, since 
clearing land and other necessary labor do not permit him to save much hay and to build 
barns for stabling. One pair of draft horses or a yoke of oxen only is necessary, to ride the 
planks for buildings, or palisades or rails from the land to the place where they are to be set. 

The farmer can get all sorts of cattle in the course of the second summer, when he will have 
more leisure to cut and bring home hay, also to build houses and barns for men and cattle. 



OF THE BUILDING OF HOUSES AT FIRST. 

Before beginning to build, 'twill above all things be necessary to select a well located spot, 
either on some river or bay, suitable for the settlement of a village or hamlet. This is 



368 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

previously properly surveyed and divided into lots, with good streets according to the 
situation of the place. This hamlet can be fenced all around with high palisades or long 
boards and closed with gates, which is advantageous in case of attack by the natives, who 
heretofore used to exhibit their insolence in new plantations. 

Outside the village or hamlet, other land must be laid out which can in general be»fenced 
and prepared at the most trifling expense. 

Those in New Netherland and especially in New England, who have no means to build 
farm-houses at first according to their wishes, dig a square pit in the ground, cellar fashion, 
six or seven feet deep, as long and as broad as they think proper, case the earth inside all 
round the wall with timber, which they line with the bark of trees or something else to 
prevent the caving in of the earth ; floor this cellar with plank and wainscot it overhead for 
a ceiling, raise a roof of spars clear up and cover the spars with bark or green sods, so that 
they can live dry and warm in these houses with their entire families for two, three and four 
years, it being understood that partitions are run through those cellars which are adapted to 
the size of the family. The wealthy and principal men in New England, in the beginning 
of the Colonies, commenced their first dwelling-houses in this fashion for two reasons; first, 
in order not to waste time building and not to want food the next season ; secondly, in 
order not to discourage poorer laboring people whom they brought over in numbers from 
Fatherland. In the course of three @ four years, when the country became adapted to 
agriculture, they built themselves handsome houses, spending on them several thousands. 

After the houses are built in the above described manner, or otherwise according to each 
person's means and fancy, gardens are made and planted in season with all sorts of pot-herbs, 
principally parsnips, carrots and cabbage, which bring great plenty into the husbandman's 
dwelling. The maize can serve as bread for men, and food for cattle. 

The hogs, after having picked up their food for some months in the woods, are crammed 
with corn in the fall ; when fat they are killed and furnish a very hard and clean pork ; a good 
article for the husbandman who gradually and in time begins to purchase horses and cows with 
the produce of his grain and the increase of his hogs, and instead of a cellar as aforesaid, 
builds good farm-houses and barns. 

OF THE NECESSARY CATTLE. 

The cattle necessary in a Colonie or private bouwery in New Netherland, are good mares 
and sound stallions. 

Yoke-oxen for the plough, inasmuch as in new lands, full of roots, oxen go forward steadily 
under the plough, and horses stand still, or with a start break the harness in pieces. 

Milch-cows of kindly disposition, and good bulls, sheep, sows, etc. Fowls are well adapted 
to bouweries. 

These cattle are abundant in New Netherland, and especially in New England, and to be 
had at a reasonable price, except sheep, which the English do not sell, and are rare in 
New Netherland. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: V. 369 

PRICES OF CATTLE. 

In New Nelhcrland. 

A young mare with her 2 d or third foal, costs fl.150 to 160 

A 4 to 5 year old stallion, about 130 

A milch cow with her 2 d or 3 d calf, 100 

A year-old sow, 20 (§1 24 

A sheep, being an ewe, 20 (al 24 

In New England. 

A good mare sells for 100 (a). 120 

A stallion, 100 

A milch cow, 60 @. 70 

A yearling sow, 12 @. 14 

Sheep are not sold there. 

It is to be observed that in a Colonie each farmer has to be provided by his landlord with at 
least one yoke of oxen or with two mares in their stead, two cows, one or two sows, for the 
purpose of increase, the use of the farm and the support of his family. 

If the above cattle multiply in course of time with God's blessing, the bouweries can be 
fully stocked with necessary cattle, and new bouweries set off with the remainder, as is the 
practice in Renselaer's Colonie and other places, as so on de novo, so as to lay out no money 
for stock. 

All farming implements necessary for the land must be also procured, except wagon and 
plough which can be made there. 

And as it is found by experience in New Netherland, that farmers can with difficulty obtain 
from the soil enough to provide themselves with necessary victuals and support, those who 
propose planting Colonies, must supply their farmers and families with necessary food for at 
least two or three years, if not altogether, it must be done at least in part. 

NECESSARY SUPPLIES FOR THE FARMER. 

If no wheat or rye can be had for bread, maize can be always had in season from the Indians 
at a reasonable price. The skepel costs ordinarily 10 (a). 15 stivers when bought from 
the Indians. 

Beef, Vinegar, 

Pork, Peas and 

Butter or oil instead; Beans. 

Salad oil and vinegar are not easy to be had in that country except at an excessively high 
price from the Dutch traders. 

All this being arranged it must be noted what description of people are best adapted for 
agriculture in New Netherland, and to perform the most service and return the most profit in 
the beginning. 

First, a person is necessary to superintend the working men; he ought to be acquainted 
with farming. 

Vol. I. 47 



370 NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Industrious country people, conversant with the working and cultivation of land, and 
possessing a knowledge of cattle. 

It would not be unprofitable to add to these some Highland boors from the Veluwe, 1 
Gulick, 2 Cleef, 3 and Berg. 4 

Northerners are a people adapted to cutting down trees and clearing land, inasmuch as they 
are very laborious and accustomed to work in the woods. 

Northerners can do almost anything; some can build much, others a little, and construct 
small craft which they call yawls. 

Carpenters who can lay brick. 

Smiths conversant with heavy work, curing cattle and provided with suitable medicines. 

One or more surgeons, according to the number of the people, with a chest well supplied 
with all sorts of drugs. 

One or more coopers. 

A clergyman, comforter of the sick, or precentor who could also act as schoolmaster. 

A wheelwright. 

All other tradesmen would follow in time; the above mentioned mechanics are the most 
necessary at first. In order to promote population through such and other means, the people 
must be provided with Freedoms and Privileges so as to induce them to quit their Fatherland, 
and emigrate with their families beyond the sea to this far distant New Netherland. And as 
poor people have no means to defray the cost of passage and other expenses, it were desirable 
that wealthy individuals would expend some capital, to people this country, or like the English 
of New England, at their own expense remove themselves with funds and a large body 
of working men, and provide those without means with land, dwelling, cattle, tools and 
necessary support; and that, until they could derive the necessary maintenance from the soil 
and the increase of cattle, after which time they would be able to pay yearly a reasonable 
quit-rent to their lords and masters from the effects in their possession. 

By the population and cultivation of the aforesaid lands those who will have disbursed 
funds for the removal of the laboring classes, the purchase of cattle and all other expenses, 
would, in process [of some years, after God had blessed the tillage and the increase of the 
cattle, derive a considerable revenue in grain, beef, pork, butter and tobacco, which form at 
first the earliest returns, and in time can be improved by industry, such as making pot 
and pearl ashes, clapboards, knees for ship building, staves, all sorts of pine and oak plank, 
masts for large ships, square timber and ash and hickory planks; in which a staple trade could 
be established. The English of New England put this in practice, as is to be seen, after the 
laud had been first brought to proper condition; they sell their provisions at the Caribbean 
Islands, staves at Madeira and the Canaries, masts and fish in Spain and Portugal and 
bring in return all sorts of commodities; so much of these returns as they do not consume, are 
again distributed by them throughout all the islands known and inhabited in the Northern 
part of America. Thus, through the variety of the returns which of necessity were received, 
a profitable trade is already established in New England, which can also be right well set on 
fool by the Netherlanders, if the population of the country were promoted. 

' The district of Arnhem, in the Province of Gelderland. * A Gtrrnan town west of Keulen. » 

' Between the Rhine and the German frontier. 

* The Duchy of Berg ia ahout four or five miles southeast of Arnhem. — Ed. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: V. 371 

The following is the mode pursued by the West India Company in the first 
planting of Bouweries. 

The Company, at their own cost and in their own ships conveyed several boors to New 
Netherland, and gave these the following terms: — 

The farmer, being conveyed with his family over sea to New Netherland, was granted by the 
Company for the term of six years a Bouwerie, which was partly cleared, and a good part of 
which was fit for the plough. 

The Company furnished the farmer a house, barn, farming implements and tools, together 
with four horses, four cows, sheep and pigs in proportion, the usufruct and enjoyment of which 
the husbandman should have during the six years, and on the expiration thereof, return the 
number of cattle he received. The entire increase remained with the farmer. The farmer 
was bound to pay yearly one hundred guilders and eighty pounds of butter rent for the 
cleared land and bouwerie. 

The country people who obtained the above mentioned conditions all prospered during their 
residence on the Company's lands. 

Afterwards the cattle belonging to the Company in New Netherland were distributed for 
some years among those who had no means to purchase stock. 

The risk of the cattle dying is shared in common, and after the expiration of the contract 
the Company receives, if the cattle live, the number the husbandman first received, and the 
increase which is over, is divided half and half; by these means many people have obtained 
stock and, even to this day, the Company have still considerable cattle among the Colonists, 
who make use on the above conditions of the horses in cultivating the farm ; the cows serve 
for the increase of the stock and for the support of the family. 

The foregoing is what is necessary to be communicated at present respecting the 
establishment of one or more Colonies and relative to supplies. What regards the government 
and preservation of such Colonies and what persons ought to be in authority there and who 
these ought to be, I leave to the wise and prudent consideration of your noble High Mightinesses. 
Meanwhile I pray the Creator of Heaven and Earth to endow your High Mightinesses with the 
Spirit of grace and wisdom, so that all your High Mightinesses' deliberations may tend to 
the advantage of the Country and its Inhabitants. 



The duty is 1G per 
cent. 



372 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Observations on the Duties levied on Goods sent to New Netherland. 

[ From the Original in the Royal Archives at the Hague ; lA>krtkas of the States Oeneral ; Rubric, Went Jndiscfuj Compaynie, No. 80 ; 10th Division of 

the Bundle. ] 

Considerations on the subject of the duty which the Hon ble West India Company- 
levies on the goods exported to New Netherland, and whether it were better, 
in regard to this State, the Company itself and New Netherland to continue 
them, to reduce them in any degree, or wholly to abolish them. Received 
from the Delegates from New Netherland, 7 tb March, 1650. 

What duty the Company exacts. 

In course of time, for it was not the custom to give so much, 16 guilders 
per cent are paid to the West India Company, at the Amsterdam chamber, on 
the goods exported to New Netherland ; that is, whoever hath a hundred guilders' worth of 
property must give sixteen additional to the Company; the convoy used to be 3J, but this is 
offered to be taken off. 

2. When people return from New Netherland they must again pay there, on the goods, eight 
per cent, according to their value in that country. Now, in this way, the cost in New 
Netherland is, and must be, doubled if expenses are in any way to be realized. Again, 
16 per cent, the same as on exportation from Netherland ; twice 16 make 32. This is a sum 
one hundred gun- certain, which must be paid to the Company before a hundred guilders, 
cSmpany M before transmitted from Netherland, can be reimbursed exclusive of the convoy, which 

any return is , _._ .. ^ ~. A , „, 

received. the Hon We Company now oners to take oft. 

Au mentation of **. This 32 per cent is considerably increased, fully equal to ten per cent more; 
the 82 per cent. thus: The first 16 guilders must be paid down here before goods can leave; so 
that these 16 pay, also, interest and insurance ; yea, are counted as capital. Again, a person's 
goods must be sent to the warehouse at Amsterdam before being shipped ; that counts so 
much. A supercargo must be supported on board in the cabin; that is also so much. But 
the worst of all is, that on the arrival of the ships in New Netherland, they are burdened with 
soldiers, so that the skipper himself is not, and does no longer remain master of his own ship. 
Loss experienced And then all the goods are again removed to the public store, broken open, 

by the depreciation . i,. 

of the goods. examined, remeasured, unpacked, thrown aside and damaged in a way that tis 

painful to behold. Frequently they are also detained so long that the best season for selling 
or trading them off is lost. When, then, they are sold and returns come to Fatherland, such 
returns must again remain a long time in the public store, and convoy must be paid. All 
The dut adds so tms expense, salvage and duty, the merchants include in the capital ; were 
pur cent - they relieved thereof, they would be able to sell their goods fifty per cent cheaper. 

_ 4. This duty is paid, partly, in Fatherland ; partly in New Netherland, but all 

The dntv is naid to J r r J r * 

their offices" 7 or f° r tne Company's benefit, and to it and its officers, without bearing in any way 
the expenses which accrue there, and the people make good. 

Who pays this duty. 
Having stated how much duty is paid, and to whom, and where the charges are paid, 'twill 
The merchant* do not De f° re ig n t° add who they are who pay it. The Company will say, the 
not pay the duty. merchants pay it, but we, under correction, are of a different opinion. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS : V. 373 

2. 'Tis very true that the Company receives the money from the traders; yet it cannot be 
said to pay it out of its pocket. But here must be considered that the disbursements of 
nnw the merchanig duty, the cartage to and from the public store, the abovementioned loss of time, 

compute their 

tftoL and other troubles, are computed by the merchants and skippers as capital, the 

same as the prime cost of the goods. Now all traders wish to gain, or they discontinue their 
business; they must also gain, or they cannot continue merchants. They, therefore, charge 
their goods not only according to the prime cost thereof, but according to the cost, 
disbursements and charges which accrue thereon. And, by this means, what cost one guilder 
in Netherland, they order sold for two, two and a half, and often and most frequently, for 
without smuggling three guilders; and if they do not smuggle, or help themselves by contraband, 
Bo e g p reft', C 8mT"me they cannot retain so much clear profit, as all will testify who have ever traded 

goods are dear. «■, at * i i j 

to l\ew Netherland. 
The inhabitant pa™ **. ^ e conc ' u de then justly that the merchants do not pay the duties and other 
lheduly " charges, but disburse at cent per cent profit; for after allowing for all costs and 

trouble caused them by the Company or its officers, they will gain, notwithstanding. The public 
now cannot do without them; neither can New Netherland be peopled, nor flourish, without 
shipping; therefore duties and charges are not paid by the merchants hut by him who buys from 
them ; and this is the citizen who requires supplies, and who pays and bears all costs and charges 
which accrue thereon. Therefore, to take off, or reduce the duty, would not be a relief 
exclusively for the merchants, but also for the poor Commonalty. 

What goods pay duty, and does the Company receive duty on all. 
■whatever goes All goods which are entered and not smuggled pay duty, no matter whether 

op-nly to N. N.-ih- ° OO r J J 

eriand pays duty, the cargo is for Indians, or dry goods or liquors. If the cargoes for the Indians 
only paid, there would be no reason for complaint ; if liquors even were somewhat taxed, it 
were allowable; but to tax the dry goods without which the Colonist cannot live, tends to the 
ruin and depopulation of New Netherland, and to the diversion of trade. 

The company doee ~- Here the question arises, does the Company receive duty from all that is 
quarter ec or ul> ike brought to New Netherland? We answer, by no means; and our opinion is that 
it does not receive duty from more than the fourth part of the goods consumed 
there; which happens thus: 

3. In consequence of the duties being heavy, a great many goods are smuggled, for the most 
Petty traders smug- P art by t,ne P ett y traders who run the risk without entering much at the Custom 
giemost. house, even of such goods as go off readily when they pay duty. Now this 
advantage by no means satisfies the public; for these petty traders spend freely which on the 
other hand small capital cannot justify. Again, they say: if we smuggle anything, that is our 
own gain; we run our risk, for if we be caught, we lose all; therefore if we gain anything, 
we wish to enjoy it alone. 

4. As the greatest profit arises from powder, lead, guns and similar articles, the sale of 
which to the Indians being contraband, is prohibited on pain of corporal punishment, yet as 
Profit derived from tne S am derived therefrom is stimulating, and as a small capital is always 
g^eauhattt hpa? realized, through these and such finesses, by people of small means, the country 
sunning" the proh'i- is overrun with them. The yearly amount is considerable from which the 

bition. . . _ 

Company derives no duties, the transaction being concealed from it. In a 



374 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

general letter to the Director and government in New Netherland, in the year 1649, the 
Company permitted the Director to supply the Indians sparingly with powder, lead and guns. 
Mnny a..."), come 5. In addition to this, a large amount of goods is introduced from New England 

from New England , , . ' ( 

an.i virgiuia. and Virginia, and the most is made on these goods : for they are imported there 

free of duty and nothing coming thence into New Netherland pays duty. Thus considerable 
English wares are consumed in New Netherland, and many goods from Holland by way of 
England and New England also come into New Netherland, which practice will probably so 
obiain in 2 or '3 years, that even if the duty remain, the Company will get nothing. Thus the 
Company receives the fourth part of the duties, but not of the goods which are consumed in 
The im»'K mn.i New N-therland. And nevertheless the public must pay for the goods, the same 

pa» sib if nil paid , , 

full .luneii. as if all the duties were levied; for what the traders gain by their business they 

reserve entirely to themselves, offsetting the profit against the trouble and risk, which they run. 

Whether the removal or continuance of the Duties would be of advantage to 
this State. 

Eventbinc in New 1. New Netherland will never advance in its condition or in population, if the 

N."llu-rlau<J m very 

d ' ur - duties continue as at present ; the reason is: — everything there is so high, as to 

be beyond the reach of the people. And this, in addition to bad government, creates a bad 
name and deters people from going thither to settle ; for with the traders 'tis somewhat different. 
The s ia ie win nev-r 2. As New Netherland with the present duties cannot be populated, so this State 

aiiain derive, p-oflt ....... . , . c c 

from n.w Noiher must no more expect those benefits which would in course ot time accrue from 

liill'l, II the iluly re- 

maiQ - thence, such as, first; from population, provisions and a continual trade which, if 

the duties were removed, would amount to six times more than it now is, and also increase 
from year to year and be of very great consideration reciprocally from their High Mightinesses 
to every one else. But on the contrary, this State will inevitably be subject to contempt and 
derision on the part of the English, (who in course of time will absorb the country) for suffering 
so very advantageous a position and so profitable a province as New Netherland to slip through 
its fingers, on account of some particular interests ; and for still lacking means, with a knowledge 
of the superiority of the country, to retain it and render it prosperous. 

3. Were the duty taken off, and good government established, New Netherland would 
do well, and the people might properly be encouraged to go thither ; population might then be 
advanced in an orderly manner and with little trouble, and this State would, with poor and 
Beyond Netherland willing people, who are in each other's way here and almost perish of want, 

rear another Nelu- 

enand. rear up another Netherland beyond Netherland at a trifling expense, and those 

going thither would be afforded opportunities and means for wealth and state. Secondly, the 
Heathen in that country would be brought to Christianity by our Nation. What blessings 
would be drawn down on this Land by relieving a number of poor and impoverished people 
and bringing them into good circumstances, and by converting or calling the Heathen, I leave 
to wiser heads than mine to determine. 

Whether the removal or continuance of the Duties be advantageous to the West 
India Company, and in what way. 

1. We suppose that the Directors will maintain that it will be best for the Company to 
continue the duties. We are, nevertheless of a contrary opinion and say, that it would be 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS : V. 375 

it would he better would be best for the Company in general to remove at once the New Netherlands 

for Ihe Company , .... . . 

that there would be duty, liut as this simple position may not, perhaps, be admitted by them, we 

no duty, than the ' J r r J 

contrary. s hall submit further reasons in support of it, and show in what respect it is of 

advantage to the Company that the duty should not be collected any more. 

2. There is not a man in New Netherland who does not believe, that the dulv is the cause 
The duty prevent* °f the intolerable scarcity, and of the disorder and want of population there, 
population. Many reproaches and curses have been in consequence heaped upon it, which 

will not cease, but continue so long as the duty lasts. 

The duty diverts the 3 * The exacting of duties diverts trade from here, for were the imposts removed, 
a greater and a larger business would be transacted at New Netherland ; and this 
renders the duty with good reason unsavory to, and hated by all maritime cities, adapted to 
commerce, such as principally Amsterdam and similar places, which in this conjuncture do 
not require them. 

4. Where the curse of every man is now directed against the Company, numbers of people 
The company would be bound to bless it were New Netherland peopled, which cannot be so 

draws down every- 

bodys curse. ] on g as the customs duty continues. 

New Netherland is 5. New Netherland is every year a burthen, not a benefit to the Company, which 

no advantage to the , . . 

Ocimpany, although expends more on, than is received from it, without, however, at all benefiting 

It expends eonotd.ir- ° 

•biethcre. New Netherland. Now, were the duty abolished, the Company could, with a 

The company could g°°d grace, put a stop to all its present expenditure there, leaving only one person 

easily gel rid of all . ... . . . , , ,,,.., 

the . \p.-nsrs of to manage their revenue in that country, ami to command the people. Whilst 

New Netherland. . , ' ' 

you now give us nothing, you must defend yourselves; we cannot maintain any 
soldiers for you ; if you will have them, pay them yourselves Again, as we cannot support 
any government for you, if you want any, you will have to provide means to pay it, or get 
those who will work for nothing for you. By the above plan, the Company would derive so 
much profit certain; inasmuch as it would only receive the income of the property it possesses 
in that country, and avoid all loss which it now annually incurs by New Netherland. 

6. By abolishing the duty, the Company would also do a service to this state, and therefore 
ir the duty continue, merit an indemnity, which at this time would not come amiss to it. In case the 

there is no h*-lp for . . " TT . - f . . . .... 

New Netherland. duty remain, your High Mightinesses, however willing you may be, cannot secure 
nor populate New Netherland; and if this do not happen, it will bring you into great 
disrepute with the English and Swedes. Again, your High Mightinesses will be continually 
troubled and disturbed by public and private petitions, until the entire country will become 
exclusively English. 

7. Now, should the Hon b,e Company answer to this: Whence shall we be paid back our arrears? 
We reply by stating, how 'tis possible or practicable. First, the Company would get the nett 
receipts of all the income of its property in that country, as already stated. Further, it must 
well know, that in its present state, or in that to which it can be brought by such management, 
there is hardly any hope or prospect of realizing any thing considerable; for even though the 
revenue were increased, it will nevertheless accrue and melt for the benefit of the Company's 

servants. But, subject to better judgment, this must be done — first, it must be 

rinn or means 'J j a 

piny 'miKiH make arranged that the country remain for some years, bound and pledged to pay 
Krd" e to** y Mew annually to the Company, a certain sum nett. And this, in my opinion, is the 

Netherland. , ,, , i , /-, i • • • i j i •. 

best and only way to help the Company to what is its right, and to retain the 
country. For, if it be retained by the Company on a different plan, the latter will, from year 



376 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

to year, get into more intricate labyrinths, and finally the English and Swedes will make 
away with the Province. 

Whether the removal of the duty be advantageous to New Netherland. 

The abolition, modification or alteration of the duty is, in our opinion, in the greatest degree 
advantageous to New Netherland. But, as every one familiar with that country ought to be 
aware of this, 'twill be unnecessary to enter upon a long explanation of it. We shall 
merely point out some effects which would accrue to New Netherland, leaving the rest to 
better judgments. 

By the abolition of the duty, New Netherland would obtain and acquire: 1, population; 2, 
great trade; 3, reasonable profit on all goods and wares; 4, internal peace; 5, security from 
all foreign and domestic attacks ; 6, settlement of boundaries and peace with its neighbors, in 
addition to all the advantages which flow from these principal points. 

Memorandum. 

We are now and always ready, when 'tis your High Mightinesses' pleasure, to exhibit and 
produce the papers and letters, mentioned on the fifth instant, in your High Mightinesses' 
Assembly, 7 March, 1650. 

Received 12 March, 1650. 



Petition of the Delegates from New Ne'tlierland. 

I From the Original in the Royal Archives at the Hague ; Loketkas of the States General ; Rubric West Indische Compagnie, No. 80 ; 11th division 

of the Bundle. ] 

To the Honorable Mighty Lords, the Lords Alexander van der Cappellen of Heraertsbergen 
and the other their High Mightinesses' deputies on the redress of New Netherland. 

Honorable, Mighty Lords. 

The Delegates of the Commonalty in New Netherland respectfully represent: as the ship 
de Valckenicr now lies ready to sail on her departure for New Netherland, and full one hundred 
and forty persons have offered to emigrate to that country at their own expense, and have 
been accepted, and as still upwards of thirty persons additional have solicited and requested 
a passage in said ship, who must be refused, because there is not accommodation in the vessel 
for them, she being not more than a hundred and sixty lasts burthen or thereabouts. The 
skipper and owners of said vessel further declare that, had they six times more accommodation 
or ships, they would all be filled; so that in the hope of better government, more passengers 
begin to set their faces towards New Netherland, according as passage and opportunity offer. 
As this tends greatly to the peopling and prosperity of that Province, we, therefore, are 
unwilling to neglect directing your Mightinesses' attention to it, requesting you to be pleased 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: V. 377 

to take tliis into consideration for the sake of New Netherland, to the end that speedy order 
and direction be given that sufficient accommodation thither may be furnished. 
Which doing. 

(Endorsed) ■ 

Remonstrance of the Delegates from New Netherland to the 
Most Mighty Lords their High Mightinesses' Deputies on 
the redress of New Netherland. Received 12 th March, 1G50. 



Appendix. 

Before me, Jan Colterman, admitted by the Court of Holland, a notary public, residing in 
the city of Haerlem, and the undernamed witnesses, appeared the worthy Willem Thomassen, 
skipper of the ship named de Vulckenier, lying in the harbor of Amsterdam, ready to sail for 
New Netherland; who, at the request of the delegates from New Netherland, testifies and 
declares by his troth, in place and with tender of an oath, if requisite and required, that it 
is true that he, deponent, agreed about two weeks ago, to convey as many people in his 
aforesaid ship to New Netherland, as he can in any way accommodate ; and that he has 
been, every day since, applied to by several other persons, for passage in his, deponent's, ship. 
And that he, deponent, hath rejected fully as many as thirty persons, for the aforesaid reason, 
that he cannot accommodate any more people in his vessel ; further deponent saith not. Thus 
executed within the city of Haerlem aforesaid, on the fifteenth of March X\T C and fifty, in 
presence of Mathys Arentsen Zuyck and Govert van Liphorst, witnesses, invited for the 
verification hereof, and who, with the deponent and me, the notary, have also signed, in 
testimony, the original draft hereof. 

Quod Attestor. 
(Signed) J. Colterman, Not 5 " Pub. 



Resohdion of the States General concerning Neto JYethtrland, &c. 

[ From the Register of West India Affairs, 1G3S — 1651, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Saturday, 12 March, 16-50, 

Foiio.i42. Messrs. van Aertsbergen and other their High Mightinesses' previous deputies for 

the affairs of the West India Company, have proposed to their High Mightinesses and requested 

Re-tress and cEcon- urst ' tnat tne Provinces should pronounce on the following points: — On the 

omy- Redress and (Economy drawn up for the West India Company and heretofore 

transmitted to the Provinces. Secondly, that extract of a Writing transmitted on the tV instant 

by the Chamber at Amsterdam to them, their High Mightinesses' Deputies, respecting the 

Tn.de to New No- trade to be carried on with New Netherland from other cities of the United 

Netherlands besides Amsterdam, be sent to the respective Chambers of the 

West India Company, with request that the said Chambers speedily send some person hither 

Vol I. 4S 



378 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

from among them, charged and authorized to confer with their High Mightinesses' deputies on 
the entire subject of New Netherland. Thirdly, that a letter be written to the President and 
President and s..- Supreme Council in Brazil, also to the Lieutenant General of the Military there, 
6ro™n. 0ouncl1 ln in answer to the news and despatches of the 13 ,h December last, to encourage 
li. Gem. scnoppe. tnem * to t | ie defence and maintenance of the forts and country there, with notice 

Defence and main- ^ 

iTnlf "lands '?n Brit that their High Mightinesses have sent a reinforcement thither of twelve ships, 
p 1 ' provisions, money for the pay of the soldiers, and supplies of shoes and stockings 

other supplies. t0 be delivered to the Military, at such price as they are purchased here; all 
amounting to one hundred and twenty thousand guilders cash, and thirty thousand guilders in 
the aforesaid necessaries purchased in this country. 

Whereupon deliberation being had, it is hereby resolved and determined on the first point — 
to request the deputies of the Provinces present to be so good as to communicate the provincial 
opinion of their respective principals, regarding the aforesaid points for Redress and (Economy 
in the affairs of the aforesaid Company. On the above mentioned second point it is resolved 
and concluded, that extract of the aforesaid writing shall be sent to the respetive Chambers of 
the above named Company, with request and desire, that each of them shall depute hither one 
or two directors against the 25 th instant, fully empowered and authorized to confer in the 
aforesaid case with the Lords their High Mightinesses' deputies over the whole subject of New 
Netherland. On the abovenamed third point, it is resolved and concluded, that agreeably to 
the plan therein proposed, the President and Supreme Council in Brazil, and, mutatis 
mutandis, Lieutenant General Schoppe shall be written to and be respectively encouraged to 
the defence and maintenance of the forts and countries of Brazil. 



States General to the Amsterdam Chamber of the West India Company. 

[ From the Register of TTitgeganc Brieven of the States General, in the Royal Archirei at the Hague. ] 

To the Amsterdam Chamber of the West India Company. 

The States General, etc. 
Folio 83. Honorable, &c We have had an extract made, as annexed hereunto, of the 

information you sent on the ll' h instant to the Lords, our Committee, for the affairs of the 
West India Company of these parts, so far as mention was made, in the aforesaid information, 
NewNethend. of frequenting New Netherland and of its trade, and transmitted said extract to 
the other Chambers of said Company respectively, with request that they will depute hither 
one or two of their Board against the 25 th inst., fully empowered and authorized to confer with 
said Lords, our Deputies, on the whole subject of New Netherland ; Whereof we have 
resolved to notify you hereby, and likewise to request and desire you to depute hither by the 
abovementioned prefixed day, one or two of your Board fully empowered and authorized for 
the end aforesaid. Wherein fail not. 
Done 12 ,h March, 1650. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: V. §79 

States General to the other Chambers of the West India Company. 

[ From the Register of Uitgegane Brieven of the States General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

To all the Chambers of the West India Company except that at Amsterdam. 

The States General, etc. 
Foiio83. Honorable, &c. Herewith is sent an extract from written information which 

the Directors of the West India Company, at Amsterdam/ transmitted on the l] lh instant to 
New Netheriand. our Committee in the matter of the West India Company of these parts. As 
mention is made in the aforesaid information of the resort to New Netherland and its trade, 
we, therefore, hereby request and require you to depute one or two of your Board hither by 
the 25" 1 instant, fully empowered and instructed on the whole New Netherland business, to 
confer thereupon with our Committee. Wherein fail not. 
Done 12 th March, 1650. 



Draft of a Contract to convey Emigrants to New Netherland. 

[ From the Minute in the Royal Archives at tho Ilague ; File, West Indie. ] 

This day, the 19 th of March, 1G50, the Committee of the Amsterdam Chamber of the West 
India Company on the one part, and Adriaen van der Donck, Jacob van Couwenhoven and 
Jan Evertsen Bout, on the other part, have mutually agreed and concluded, in the presence 
of their High Mightinesses' Deputies: 

That the aforesaid Van der Donck, Couwenhoven and Bout will undertake, as they do 
hereby contract to charter a suitable fly-boat of 200 lasts and therein to go to sea before the 
first of June next, and convey to New Netherland the number of 200 passengers, of which 
100 are to be farmers and farm servants, and the remaining 100 such as the Amsterdam 
Chamber is accustomed to send over, conversant with agriculture, and to furnish them with 
necessary supplies for the voyage on the condition that the aforesaid Committee of the 
Company shall allow the New Netherland contractors here to have, or to draw from the duties 
which, after this date, will be paid to the Company on freights for New Netherland the sum 
of four thousand guilders cash, to pay present expenses; the subject of duty, redress, and 
New Netherland freedoms remaining for the more full disposition of their High Mightinesses 
and the Directors of the West India Company. The Committee of the Company shall 
immediately make an assignment of such funds, together with seven thousand guilders 
additional, to be drawn in New Netherland from the peltry revenue, amounting, in all, to the 
sum of eleven thousand guilders, the further sums derived from board and passage, if any there 
be, remaining for the profit and behoof of them the New Netherland, contractors, without they, 
or the aforesaid hundred gratuitously conveyed persons, demanding anything further from the 
Company, or taxing them not even one stiver beyond the said eleven thousand guilders. The 
contractors shall, also, bind the aforementioned two hundred conveyed persons to remain 
there at least three years, unless some of them, for pregnant reasons, may obtain, from the 



380 NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Council in New Netherland, permission to return earlier, and not allow them to depart without 
first paying double the amount of the passage, and in case it come to pass that the aforesaid 
two hundred persons be not put on ship-board within the aforesaid time, so as to be able to 
go to sea, the aforesaid Van der Donck, Couwenhoven and Boudt, shall forfeit to the Company, 
from their private property, in addition to the restitution of the 4000 guilders received for 
present expenses, the sum of two thousand guilders at once, without the Company being 
further bound for the aforesaid passage or board money. And the West India Company shall 
be privileged, whenever said 200 persons are brought on board, to cause to be inspected the 
ship and the people, if these be qualified as aforesaid. And the New Netherland contractors 
declare that they do not intend to derive any profit beyond the return of cost which must be 
disbursed to obtain the passengers ; they also bind themselves, the costs being deducted, to 
leave any overplus there may be, to be applied next year to the like conveyance of farmers or 
farm servants; whereunto they each oblige themselves in solidum aud under renunciation of 
division, and also subject their goods to all courts and judges. Thus agreed and concluded, 
and signed by the Contractors, on both sides, at the Hague, on the day and year aforesaid. 



« !• ♦ • i »■ 



Resolution of the States General on the preceding. 

[From the Register of West India Affairs, 1633— 1651, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Wednesday, 23 d March, 1650. 

Foiio545. The report of Mess" van Aertsbergen and other their High Migtinesses' 

New Netheriand. previous committee for the affairs of the West India Company in treaty with 
p-XnK.'rTthnher. 10 the actual delegates from New Netherland relative to the conveyance to that 
country of two hundred passengers, and the conditions thereof, and the remarks of the 
Directors of the West India Company present, being heard, the Lords of Holland requested 
copy thereof, and the matter is meanwhile postponed. 



«.«♦«.» 



Resolution of the States of Holland and Westfriesland. 

Peie atesfromNew The Assembly is advised that some Delegates from New Netherland having 
Netherland. come here with power to convey from this country to that, a considerable number 

of farmers and other people, but that the aforesaid district being under the West India 
Company's jurisdiction, the Directors of said Company intend to draw some duties from the 
aforesaid country of New Netherland. 

Whereupon deliberation being had, it is resolved that the Directors of the aforesaid 
Company shall be heard on the aforesaid work ; and the gentlemen from Amsterdam are 
allowed copy of what the above mentioned Delegates have communicated to the General 
Assembly (ter Gcncralitek), and that meanwhile the aforesaid matter shall be left undisposed of. 

24 March, 1650. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: V. 381 

Chamber of Groningen to the States General. 

[ From the Original in the Eoyal Archives at the Uague ; Loketkat of Hie States General ; Division, West IndUclie Compugnie, No. 30.] 

High and Mighty Lords. 

We learn from a reliable source, that by your High Mightinesses' order, the Amsterdam 
Chamber of the West India Company is authorized to lay on a ship for Brazil ; and we have 
lying at Amsterdam a lot of forty barrels of beef, each weighing 500 lbs , well packed in iron 
bound barrels, which through want of opportunity cannot be cleared nor conveyed to Brazil, 
and even did occasion present, no one would be willing to receive the aforesaid beef unless 
the freight were previously paid, which it is impossible for us to do. And considering that 
provisions will be in the greatest demand in Brazil, we request your High Mightinesses to be 
pleased to order that the aforesaid forty barrels be shipped in this vessel now put on, and 
be therein conveyed to Brazil. 

Further, we duly received your High Mightinesses' letter of the 12 th instant stilo loci, that 
we should confer at the Hague with your High Mightinesses' Committee on the 25 th March, 
on the subject of the resort to New Netherland and of its trade, upon certain information 
transmitted by the Amsterdam Directors to your High Mightinesses' Committee for the affairs 
of the West India Company, we would not willingly fail to depute thither some one of our 
Chamber, but inasmuch as we possess very little knowledge thereof, having never traded to 
that place; and as in these ham times every expense must be avoided, we therefore request 
your High Mightinesses will be pleased to excuse us in this instance. We will, meanwhile, 
conform ourselves to whatever your High Mightinesses' Committee, with the assistance of the 
Directors delegated from the other Chambers, shall do and determine in the premises. 

Herewith concluding, we will commend you, High and Mighty Lords, to God's 
Holy protection. 

Your High Mightinesses' obedient friends, 

The Directors of the West India Company 

at the Chamber of Stadt Groningen and Ommelanden. 

Done, Groningen, the 14 ,h March, 1G50. (Signed) Rengeks. 

Received 31 March, 1650. 



. - . .*. . . »- 



Resolution of the States General. 

I From the Register of West India Affairs, 1638 — 1651, in the Royal Archives at the rfaguo. ] 

Thursday, 31 st March, 1G50. 
Folio 543. Received a letter from the Directors of the West India Company at the 

chamber at Gmnin- Chamber of the city of Groningen and Ommelanden, written at Groninaen, 

gen. ■* * J o * 

Provisions for Bra- the 14 th instant stilo loci, regarding the sending provisions to Brazil, and also the 
New Netheriand. affair of New Netherland. Whereupon, deliberation being had, it is resolved 
and concluded that the aforesaid letter shall be placed in the hands of Mess" van Aertzbergen 
and other their High Mightinesses' deputies for the affairs of the West India Company, to 
inspect, examine and to report upon it. 



382 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Resolution of the States General. 

[From tbe Register of West India Affairs, 1C38 — 1651, in the Eoyal Archives at the Hague.] 

Friday, the 1 st April 1650. 
Folio 643. On representation made to the Assembly by Mess" van Aertsbergen and other 

their High Mightinesses' deputies for the affairs of the West India Company, it is, after 
Pieter stuyvcsanL previous deliberation, resolved and concluded that Pieter Stuyvesant Director and 
the other Councillors in New Netherland, shall be written to that their High Mightinesses are 
engaged in deliberation with the Directors of the West India Company on subjects appertaining 
Affairs or New to ^' ie population and prosperity of New Netherland aforesaid, and meanwhile 
have licensed some persons delegated hither from the Commonalty there, to return 
home, requiring him, Stuyvesant, and the other Councillors there not to trouble nor molest 
such persons, who came from New Netherland and will again return thither, for representations 
which may have been made here. And whereas it is considered necessary that the population 
now under consideration be favored and encouraged in every way, their High Mightinesses 
charge him, the Director, and Council to take care that the country be not divested of 
Guns, horses, cows, horses and cows, also that provisions be retained to supply arriving Colonists, 
and the inhabitants generally furnished with arms necessary for their defence, and the guns 
stamped ; the aforesaid New Netherland delegates being to that end allowed to purchase and 
carry over two hundred guns for distribution according to the order to be issued thereunto by 
their High Mightinesses; and to that end all inhabitants shall be forbidden henceforth to sell 
stamped guns and to export, or cause to be exported, any horses or cows without the permission 
of the Council. 

Further, that said guns shall be distributed among the inhabitants of the city of New 
Amsterdam and those who are capable of nearing arms, and also to other families spread 
throughout the Country, who shall be expressly ordered and obliged to keep their guns in good 
condition and to supply themselves witli necessary powder, causing pertinent record to be kept 
of the guns distributed as aforesaid, in order that they be inspected and examined every three 
months; and should any guns remain over, they must be secured in the public store, and this 
conclusion is proposed by Mr. van Renswoude. 



States General to the Director, dec, of New Netherland. 

[From the Register of Uitgegane Bricven of the States General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

The States General, etc. 

Folio «. Honorable, etc. We continue daily to turn our attention to the prosperity of 

New Netherland interests, and are therefore occupied in deliberations with the Directors 

population or New °f tue West India Company, on the peopling of said New Netherland and its 

dependencies. Meanwhile, we have permitted some persons delegated hither 

from the Commonalty of that place, to return there requiring you, therefore, neither to trouble 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: V. 383 

nor molest those who came from New Netherland, and are about to return thither, on account 
of any representations that may have been made here ; and whereas we deem it expedient, that 
the population, which is now needed, should be favored and encouraged in every way, we direct 
and order you to take care that the country be not divested of horses and cows; also that 
supplies of provisions be reserved for the arriving colonists, and that the inhabitants be 
furnished with arms necessary for their defence, and the guns stamped, wherefore the delegates 
from New Netherland are allowed to purchase and convey thither two hundred guns, to be 
distributed according to the order by us given. And that, therefore, all inhabitants shall 
be forbidden henceforth to sell any stamped guns, and to export or cause to be exported, any 
horses or cows without permission of the Council. You shall, moreover, distribute the aforesaid 
guns among the inhabitants of the city of New Amsterdam, and to all those who are capable 
of bearing arms, and toother families scattered throughout the country, with express command 
that they shall be obliged to keep their guns in good order, and to provide themselves with 
requisite powder, keeping correct register of the guns distributed as aforesaid, so that they 
may be inspected and examined every three months, and should any guns remain over, 
they shall be stored in the warehouse. Done the first April, 1G50. 



Resolution of the States General to invest Mr. van Rensselaer with Manorial 

Privileges. 

[ From the Register of West India Affairs, 1633 — 1651, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Thursday, 7 ,h April, 1650. 
Foiio85o. The report being heard of Messrs. van Aertzbergen and other their High 

Mightinesses' Committee for the affairs of the West India Company, who pursuant to their 
High Mightinesses' resolutions looked into and examined certain petition of the guardians of 
johan ran Rena- J° nan van Rensselaer, minor son of Kiliaen van Renselaer deceased, whereby they 
iaer'« guardians. re quest their High Mightinesses to be pleased to grant the aforesaid Johan van 
Renselaer patent of investiture of High, Middle and Low jurisdiction over a certain Colonie in 
New Netherland, called Rensselaer's- Wyck, together with fishing, fowling, and milling to the 
exclusion of all others; it is after previous deliberation hereby resolved and concluded to 
allow and accord the Petitioners' request, on condition that they shall previously designate the 
bounds and district of the aforesaid Colonie called Rensselaer's- Wyck, in order that after the 
Barne is seen and examined by their High Mightinesses, further disposition shall be made as to 
the issuing of the aforesaid patent of investiture. 



384 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Resolution of the Slates General admitting D. ran Schelluyne to be Notary in 

New Netherland. 

[From the Register of West India Affairs, 1038 — 1051, in the Royal Archives at the Hague.] 

Friday, S ,h April, 1650. 
Foiio 350. On the petition of Dirck van Schelluyne Notary here in the Hague, it is, after 

rayneadmutedlffol previous deliberation, hereby resolved and concluded to admit the petitioner 
l a riand. ew e * peaceably and quietly, in all loyalty, to exercise the office of Notary at the 
Manhatans, and further throughout the entire of New Netherland in all existing and future 
Colonies where the Petitioner elects his domicile, or by request or occasion may repair, 
without opposition or contradiction of the Director or any others, for the benefit of the 
Commonalty there; whereunto a commission in due form shall be issued for the petitioner. 



Commission of Dirck van Schelluyne as Notary in Nero Netherland. 

[ From the Acte-Boek of the State9 General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Commission to Dirck van Schelluyne, Notary here in the Hague, authorizing and 
appointing him to exercise said office of Notary in New Netherland. 

F0U029. The States General of the United Netherlands. To all those who shall see 

these or hear them read, Health. Know Ye : Whereas We have received the humble petition 
to us presented by Dirck van Schelluyne Notary here at the Hague, to empower him to 
exercise said Notarial profession at the Manhattans, and further throughout the whole of New 
Netherland in all existing and future Colonies thereof. Therefore, on account of the good 
report made to Us of Dirck van Schelluyne aforesaid, and of his utility and fitness, fully 
confiding in his industry and fidelity, We, the aforesaid Dirck van Schelluyne have appointed 
and authorized, and do hereby appoint and authorize, to exercise the aforesaid profession of 
Notary at the abovenamed Manhatans and further throughout the whole of New Netherland, 
in all actual and future Colonies, where the petitioner keeps his domicile, or may on request 
or occasion, repair, giving him full power, to draw up all Declarations, Testaments, Codicils, 
Instruments, preliminary Informations, Mercantile and Marriage Contracts, and other acts, 
stipulations necessarily of use to the Commonalty, and moreover to do all things that a good 
and faithful Notary may and ought to do, on condition that he shall be bound to take at Our 
hands the usual oath for the due execution of his office, which being done, We request and 
command the Director and Council, and all other Our subjects in the aforesaid Countries of 
New Netherland, who are now or may be hereafter commissioned thither, whom this may in 
any wise concern, to acknowledge the aforesaid petitioner for Notary, and to offer him no let 
or hindrance. 

Done at the Hague, the eighth of April XVI C and fifty. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: V. 385 

Resolution of the States of Holland and Westfriesland. 

New Netheriand ° n tne report of Mr. Paats that strong efforts are making in the General 
Assembly to get their Great Mightinesses there to cause to be introduced some 
Provincial motion on the petition of the delegates from New Netheriand relative to the conveyance 
of two hundred or more farmers or other persons required in that country, and other matter 
appertaining thereunto. 

Whereupon deliberation being had, the members from Amsterdam are requested to 
communicate their opinions, as it is, in like manner, understood that the Chamber of the West 
India Company at Amsterdam shall be heard, thereupon. 



Delegates from New Netheriand to the Committee of the States General. 

[ From the Original in the Royal Archives at the Hague ; Lohetkai of the States General ; Rubric West Indische Cvmpugnie, No. SO ; 14th division of 

the Bundle. ] 

To the Honorable, Mighty Lords Alexander van der Capelle of Heraesbergen, and the other 
their High Mightinesses' Committee on the Redress of New Netheriand. 

Honorable Mighty Lords. 

The delegates from New Netheriand respectfully represent, that on the 30 lb of March, they 
received letters from New Netheriand, dispatched the 17 lb December 1G49, copy whereof is 
hereunto annexed, together with certain protest and vote of Mr. L. van Dincklagen, Vice 
Director in New Netheriand, signifying that everything in that country is in a very indifferent 
condition, and that the Commonalty there longs greatly for our good success and return, which 
are so highly necessary. Also, that P r Stuyvesant, the West India Company's Director, had 
exported to Barbadoes 20 horses in the vessel belonging to the Danish crown, which he 
had confiscated when we were in New Netheriand. Also that he had purchased on credit at a 
high price payable in the Spring, all the provisions which were on hand and necessary there, 
as the rivers are closed by the ice, and prevent approach ; whereby the poor people are reduced 
to extremity and great scarcity. And as these matters are of very bad consequence and produce 
many inconveniencies for New Netheriand, as we could specifically enumerate at large but 
which for brevity sake we shall here dismiss with only one word. 

Passing over the confiscation of the Danish ship, although it, too, is of dangerous consequences, 
we observe, as regards the loss of the horses, that it tends to the prejudice and great injury of 
the country and its population. This also appears from the protest of the [Vice] Director L. 
van Dincklagen, whom the Director, as appears by the accompanying letters, berated as a 
vagabond, though an honorable man and a Doctor of Law, and eventually excluded from the 
Council Chamber, for proposing something for the Country's good and the Company's 
advantage. Secondly, the exportation of the provisions, consisting in most part of grain 
and flour, is likewise injurious to the country and the people; for when the rivers in that 
country are closed, which commonly happens in December, no transportation can take place ; 

Vol. I. 49 



3S6 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

so that a ship load of provisions amounts to a great Heal among so few people, more especially 
as many farms which were devastated by the war, are yet unsown by farmers and laborers and 
lie waste ; all which cause want and scarcity. These being noted, as your Noble Mightinesses 
will further see by the accompanying documents, the Delegates again most humbly turn to 
your Noble Mightinesses respectfully beseeching your noble Mightinesses to be pleased to hasten 
the Redress of New Netherland, and to issue and make such order therein as you shall find 
for the advantage of that country. 
Which doing, etc. 



Appendix. A" 1650. 

Extract of a certain letter addressed from New Netherland, the 17" 1 December, 
[1649,] to Cornells Melyn. 

But should no change be made here, and God not please to improve our condition, we, who 
have come to New Netherland, are unfortunate men, for it grows from bad to worse. But the 
trumpet sounds so loud, that poor people have scarcely enough to eat, for no supplies of bread, 
butter, beef and pork can now be had, except for beaver or silver coin. And Stuyvesant, who 
promised the people either beavers or silver coin, or cargoes in the spring, hath acted thus, in 
order to victual the vessel in which Rodenberch will accompany Korrelaer to Barbadoes, with 
about 20 horses. This is a good beginning for the peopling of New Netherland. Mynheer 
Dincklagen, hath protested against it, but they heed it not, and treat him with harsh words. 
When he spoke in behalf of the interests of the Company and the Country, Sluyvesant said, 
he should not sit wiih him, that he is a fomenter of sedition, and a vagabond ; and other similar 
things too numerous to be detailed here. Therefore, assistance is very much desired, for things 
begin to come to a crisis; we wish, then, that God would be pleased to send the delegates 
back quickly with business accomplished, for here matters continue so bad, as to excite 
murmurs against Heaven. This day, the 17 ,h , the vessel sailed, but the wind being south, she 
was obliged, by the stiffness of the breeze, to come to anchor. It is so cold here, that the ink 
freezes in the pen. 

And was subscribed, 

Janneken Melyn. 



Appendix. A" 1650. Extracts. 

Advice of the Honble L. van Dincklagen, on the petition presented by Arent 
van Corlaer, to the Council, the 29" 1 November, 1649, in fort Amsterdam. 

I neither consent nor vote that petitioner's request be granted, inasmuch as grain is scarce 
here, and bouweries lie unoccupied, and horses will now and hereafter be in greater demand, 
an accession to the population being expected from time to time. Date aforesaid. 

(Signed) L. van Dincklage. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS : V. 387 

On the 13 December, Anno 1649, the Hon 1 '" Mr. Dincklagen protests in Council against the 
Hon ,,le Director Stuyvesant and Arent van Corlaer, in the name of their High Mightinesses, 
the Lord Prince of Orange and the Hon l,le West India Company, for having exported horses 
by the ship, the Prins, to Barbadoes, as Corlaer exhibits no license from their High 
Mightinesses, or the Hon l,le Lords Majors. Dated as aforesaid. 

(Signed) L. van Djncklagen. 

Agrees with the Book of Resolutions of the Council holden in fort Amsterdam, 
by the Hon ble Director General and Council of New Netherland. 

(Signed) Jacob Kip, Clerk. 



Report of the Committee of the States General on the Affairs of New Netherland. 

[ From the MS. in the Royal Archives at the Ilague ; Loktikas of the States General ; Rubric West Indwcfa Compagnit, No. 30 ; 16lh division of 

the Bundle. 1 

Provisional Order respecting the Government, Preservation and Peopling of 
New Netherland. 

Messrs. van Aertzbergen and the other your High Mightinesses' Committee on West India 
affairs, having been for some months in conference with the Directors delegated by the 
Chamber at Amsterdam and others of the West India Company, on matters brought before 
your High Mightinesses, both by the Delegates from New Netherland and the Directors there, 
from and on behalf of the People, in divers written and verbal remonstrances and memorials, 
have, at the request of the Directors of the Amsterdam Chamber, consented to pass over 
divers matters contained in the Great Reeonstrance of the People, and to apply themselves 
to the principal points, on the express assurance from the aforesaid Directors that they would 
receive all just and respectful representations. And to this end, having inquired into the 
system of government hitherto maintained in New Netherland, the heavy burthens which 
the Company hath in consequence borne, and the small profit derived therefrom, the destruction 
of the population, the neglect in applying remedies to errors and excesses; and, considering 
that your High Mightinesses cannot, and ought not any longer approve of the perverse 
administration of the privileges and benefits granted by charter to the stockholders of the 
West India Company; of the commissioners of New Netherland, under the authority of 
the Chamber at Amsterdam, neglecting or opposing the good plans and offers submitted for the 
security of the boundaries and the increase of the population of the country : And whereas 
your High Mightinesses, as sovereigns over your subjects, are well qualified, nay, bound to 
see that the property of the latter, (still in a condition to be saved and improved if no time 
be lost and good care be taken) shall not be allowed to go to ruin or fall into the hands of 
others ; Therefore, we, your High Mightinesses' Committee, are of opinion that the preservation 
of those countries and benefits, which were originally granted by your High Mightinesses not 
to the Directors of the Chamber at Amsterdam, but to all the stockholders of the West India 
Company scattered throughout the Provinces, demands other orders than those issued 



388 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

heretofore for the government thereof, the increase and establishment of the population, raising 
and bearing of necessary taxes, the prevention of dangers and general ruin similar to what 
has been bitterly experienced for a few years ; and further, for the effectual removal of all sorts 
of evils and troubles, which have been elaborately submitted to your High Mightinesses: 
And in order that the complaints of the Nation's subjects, now heard and examined for the 
space of five months, may be deferred no longer by conferences and objections, but remedied 
by good resolutions. 

We would, therefore, be of opinion that your High Mightinesses do, with the advice and 
communication of the Directors now summoned from all the Chambers of the West India 
Company, the major part of whom are in attendance, permit the Delegates from New 
Netherland to return this season, to encourage and animate all the innaoitants there sedulously 
to attend to the cultivation of the soil and to the improvement, security and increase of the 
population within their limits. And, accordingly, that the offer respecting the conveyance of 
passengers and farmers which they made, ought to be speedily accepted and executed ; and, 
further, that this Provisional Order be enacted and also furnished them. 

1. 

First. Whereas their High Mightinesses have received the strange and unexpected 
in'elligence that contributions have been demanded from the Aborigines of the country and, 
such having been refused, that the late Director Kieft, under pretense that the people so 
demanded by petition, signed, however, by merely three persons, had waged against those 
Aborigines an unnecessary, bloody and ruinous war, the instigators whereof have not been 
duly inquired alter, or punished, the Director and Council shall in future be careful that [no 
war] be undertaken against the Aborigines of the country or neighbors of New Netherland, 
without their High Mightinesses' knowledge. And in case any misunderstanding and trouble 
may arise between or with said Aborigines or neighbors, all possible means shall be made use 
of to remove the same, before matters come to extremities, and advice shall be sent at once to 
their High Mightinesses of what might transpire in the premises. 

2. 

Secondly, Jan Jansen Damen and Abraham Planck, having presented the petition, 
whereupon the war was commenced, shall be sent to their High Mightinesses, that information 
may be obtained from them from what occurred, and who had induced them to present the 
aforesaid petition. 

3. 

Thirdly, that those who, contrary to express orders and prohibition, have undertaken to sell 
and barter articles of contraband, such as guns, pistols, powder and lead to the Aborigines, and 
thus exposed themselves, with all those who actually reside, or hereafter may come to New 
Netherland, to the imminent danger of being suddenly attacked, massacred and driven off, 
shall be punished (or the excesses herein committed, especially for what occurred during the 
war, when subjects of this State dared to strengthen their enemies by the sale of prohibited 
articles of contraband. And whereas this evil has now reached that stage that the trade in 
the aforesaid contraband goods cannot easily be cut short or forbidden, without evident danger 
of new war and trouble between the subjects of this State and the Aborigines, the Council of 
New Netherland shall be notified, and ordered to take care that none of the aforesaid articles 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: V. 389 

of contraband shall be hereafter traded and sold either by colonists or other inhabitants, except 
with its knowledge and by its order, the guns to be charged at 6 guilders, the pistols at 4 
guilders, the pound of powder at six stivers, all for the benefit of the public interests there; so 
as in time, when it can, in their opinion, be safely done, to forbid the trade altogether, under 
heavy penalties to be thereunto enacted. 



Fourthly, whereas their High Mightinesses learn that the people of New Netherland either 
are not obliged, or have themselves forgotten to possess and make use of arms necessary for 
their own defence, therefore, the inhabitants generally, shall be bound each to provide himself 
with a good gun and the requisite powder and lead, and be enrolled and formed into 
companies, have the said guns stamped and inspected, with a prohibition against the sale of 
such stamped guns, on pain of himself or family being deprived thereof. 

5. 

The forts shall all be well maintained and taken care of at the places where, for the 
occupation of the country, they have been, or shall by order hereafter be erected ; 
the magazine therein provided with necessary munitions of war, the houses and court yards 
built either within the walls or at a short distance around them, without, however, impeding 
the defence which must be made therefrom ; causing the inhabitants to dwell so close and 
compact together, that they be able to help, aid and defend each other. 

6. 

New Netherland being at present provided with only one clergyman, orders shall be given 
forthwith for the immediate calling and support of at least three preachers; one to attend to 
Divine service at Renselaer's colonie ; the second in and about the city of New Amsterdam, 
and the third in the distant places ; and the Commonalty shall be also obliged to have the 
youth instructed by good school-masters. 

7. 
Whereas it is found that greater pains have generally been taken to promote the fur trade 
than the agriculture and population of the country, the Supreme Council there, shall, in 
consequence, above all things, provide that cattle be not exported, but be as much as 
possible retained and reared there; also that a good quantity of grain be kept in store, to be 
furnished and sold at a reasonable price to newly arriving immigrants, who are to be assisted 
and favored in every manner, and be located on good lands, suitable for cultivation, taking care 
therein that they shall dwell as close and as compact together as possible on such lands and 
places as shall be considered best and most suitable for homestead, bouwerie, plantation 
and security ; the Patroons of colonies remaining at liberty to improve their own lands as they 
think proper, they being likewise obliged to settle their colonists in the form of villages. 

8. 
The Council shall also provide for the establishment and continuance of a good trade and 
commerce in provisions and other commodities between New Netherland and the national forts 
in Brazil, permitting the merchants to take in all sorts of wares there, and to bring back 
whatever they shall deem proper. 



390 NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

9. 

The propositions as they are drawn shall be amplified for the relief of the Directors of the 
Amsterdam Chamber and the increase of the public revenue, without embarrassing the State 
or West India Company, in such wise that instead of 20,000 guilders or thereabouts, which the 
Amsterdam Chamber now draws annually, it shall be able to derive fifty thousand guilders and 
by degrees increase further to the essential advantage of the worthy stockholders, and to that 
end, the Supreme Council shall be written to and instructed to have the Colonists or 
their Patroons, and the people of New Netherland convoked, and to endeavor to induce them 
to consent to, assume and bear the aforesaid charges, causing them to collect and manage the 
funds and to pay the taxes in such proportion as they shall themselves enact. 

10. 
The request for Freedoms and Exemptions shall be more fully examined, with the 

considerations moved thereupon. 

11. 

The Council of New Netherland shall consist of a President or Director; a Vice Director and 
of three Councillors, one of whom shall be appointed on the part of their High Mightinesses 
and the West India Company, and the other two selected from the inhabitants of that country. 

12. 
For which purpose the Director and Council shall be bound to call a meeting of the Patroons 
of Colonies, or their agents, and of the deputies of the Commonalty, to be held within the city of 
New Amsterdam for the purpose of nominating four qualified persons from whom two shall be 
selected who shall be thereunto qualified by their High Mightinesses and those of the West 
India Company. These two elected Councillors shall serve (bur consecutive years, but on the 
expiration of the aforesaid four years, one of the two may by lot continue two years more and 
the other retire in order to present two others in future, biennially, by a new nomination, in 

manner as aforesaid. 

13. 

The Advocate-fiscal shall haveboth seat and vote in said Council, in matters not appertaining 

to his office. 

14. 

Petrus Stuyvesant, the present Director, shall be instructed to return home and report. 

15. 
And a suitable person conversant with Agricultural matters and the nature of soils, shall be 
forthwith dispatched and sent by the first opportunity to New Netherland to take charge of the 
lands situated on both sides of the Great North river, extending southerly to the South river, 
and northerly to the fresh river, with instruction based on the Considerations exhibited 
conjointly by the Directors and the Delegates from New Netherland. 

16. 

On the increase of the population and the augmentation of the inhabitants, a Court of Justice 
shall be established in the province. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: V. 391 

17. 

And within the city of New Amsterdam a municipal government, consisting of one Sheriff, 
two Burgomasters and five Schepens. 

IS. 

Meanwhile shall the Nine Selectmen continue three years longer, and have jurisdiction over 
small causes arising between Man and Man, to adjudicate definitively on suits not exceeding 
the sum of fifty guilders and on higher amounts under privilege of appeal. 

19. 
All inhabitants now there, or arriving hereafter in the country, shall take an oath of fidelity, 
according to the form to be sent to the Supreme Council. 

20. 

Private vessels proceeding to the north parts of America and the islands thereabout, shall 
be obliged to convey over all passengers who will present themselves to be taken to New 
Netherland, to the number at least of persons for every ship whose burthen is and 

more in proportion. 

21. 

Finally, the sum of fifteen thousand guilders at least shall hereafter be annually appropriated 
from funds pointed out by the Delegates from New Netherland, for the conveyance of families, 
or those who will apply themselves to agriculture, and are not able to pay their passage and 
expenses. And for this purpose, two ships shall, agreeably to concluded arrangements, be 
chartered and provisioned, with this understanding, that double the expense of passage 
and provisions shall be exacted from all immigrants who will, after the expiration of four years, 
have the means of payment, or otherwise desire to quit the country. 



«'■»■■ 



Observations of the Chamber at Amsterdam on the preceding Report. 

[ From the MS. In the Royal Archives at the Hague ; Loketka* of the States Genera] ; Rubric We*t Indischs Compagnie, No. 30 ; 16th division 

of the Bundle. ] 

To the Noble Mighty Lords, the Committee of the High and Mighty Lords States General 
of the United Netherlands for the affairs of the West India Company. 

The Directors of the Incorporated West India Company of the Chamber at Amsterdam, 

having communication of the annexed writing, and being ordered to submit their opinion 

thereon, state, under correction, as their conclusion on the first, — That they most respectfully 

request to know how, and by what means it appears to their High Mightinesses that the war 

against the Indians was undertaken solely on the petition of three persons, especially as they 

the Directors are otherwise informed, as can be seen from a certain report sent over by the 

late Director. 

2. 

This article relates to the statement in the first. 



392 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

3. 

The trade in articles of contraband has been always forbidden ; and we cannot consider it 
wise to give private persons, yet, so much latitude. But if some of the aforesaid wares must, 
however, to avoid offence, be sold with a sparing hand, such shall be permitted by the 
Director and Council, with knowledge of circumstances and only when necessary. This small 
charge is also wholly unnecessary, inasmuch as the Indians will readily purchase guns in the 
spring, @. 120 guilders, and a pound of powder, @. 10 or 12 guilders. 

6. 

Those of the Colonie Rensslaers-Wyck must pay their own clergyman, and are busy 

inquiring for a person. New Amsterdam is provided, and none is yet required in the 

out-lying places. 

8. 

This point is fully treated in the Freedoms. 

9. 
The purport of this article ought to be made clearer in order to render it intelligible. In 
all cases we cannot understand how the inhabitants can be brought to bear the expenses, 
inasmuch as it is already slated that they complain about a small impost on beer and wine, 
which is, however, paid only by the tapsters. 

10. 
The subject of the Freedoms forms a particular report, which will be approved by us when 
the copy thereof is ready. 

The Council ought to remain constituted as lately enacted by the Assembly of the XIX.; it 
can then be conceded, for the satisfaction of the people, that two of their number shall be 
adjoined to the aforesaid Council, to be selected by the Company here from a nomination of 
a triple number to be previously made by the aforesaid Commonalty. 

12. 
This article is co-dependent on what has been already stated. 

14. 

The Directors consider this coming over to be entirely unnecessary, unless some reasons 
to the contrary be alleged. And in case some information be required on the affairs in New 
Netherland, in addition to what Secretary van Tienhoven can furnish, the Vice Director might 
come home. 

15. 
They consider this to be co-dependent on the preceding. 

18. 

The judicature ought to be left as established, both in the Company's lands and in 
the Colonies. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: V. 



393 



20. 



This order is in regard of some private ships, impracticable and useless for the Company. 
Only this can be enacted, that all ships entered for New Netherland shall be obliged to convey 
over as many persons as they have lasts burthen. 

21. 
So long as the Company continues in its present straitened condition and want of money, it 
cannot pledge itself to these 15,000 guilders per annum. And neither would the creditors 
of the Company allow its money to be employed for such a purpose, whilst their debts 
remain unpaid. 

(Endorsed) 

Remarks of the West India Chamber at Amsterdam on the 
Provisional Order on the government, preservation and 
peopling of New Netherland. 11 April, 1650. 



Provisional order respecting the govern- 
ment, preservation and peopling of 
New Netherland. 

Messrs. van Aertsbergen and the other your 
High Mightinesses' Committee on West India 
affairs having been for some months past in 
conference with the Directors delegated by 
the Chamber at Amsterdam and others of the 
West India Company on matters brought 
before your High Mightinesses both by the 
Committee from New Netherland and the 
Director there, from and on behalf of, the 
people, in divers written and verbal remon- 
strances and Memorials, have at the request 
of the Directors of the Amsterdam Chamber 
consented to pass over divers matters contained 
in the Great Remonstrance of the People, 
and to apply themselves to the principal 
points, on the expressed assurance from the 
aforesaid Directors, that they would receive all 
just and respectful representations. And to 
this end, having inquired into the system 
of government hitherto maintained in New 
Netherland, the heavy burdens which the 
Company hath in consequence borne, and the 
small profit derived therefrom, the impeding 
of the population, the neglect in applying 
remedies to errors and excesses; and con- 
Vol. I. 50 



Remarks of the Amsterdam Chamber. 
II April, 1G50. 

The Directors of the West India Company 
Chamber at Amsterdam being ordered to 
make their observations on the annexed 
writing, state their opinion thereupon as it is 
here inserted. 



The Directors of the Amsterdam Chamber 
respectfully deny that they made the request 
mentioned, but indeed that they on the contrary 
were requested to refute those people's 
abusive representations; who 'tis notorious 
were not willing to subscribe their written 
deduction in presence of their High Mighti- 
nesses' deputies. 



The Directors request proof wherein or 
whereby population has been impeded 
or hindered by them. 



394 



NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 



sidering that your High Mightinesses cannot, 
and ought not any longer look approvingly on 
the perverse administration of the privileges 
and benefits granted by charter to the 
stockholders of the West India Company, and 
that the good proposals and offers submitted 
for the security of the Boundaries and popu- 
lation of the country have been slighted or 
opposed by the Commissioners of New 
Netherland under the authority of the Chamber 
at Amsterdam. 

And whereas your High Mightinesses, as 
Sovereigns over your subjects, are well quali- 
fied, nay bound, to see that the property of 
the latter, still in a condition to be saved and 
improved, if no time be lost and if good care 
be taken, shall not be allowed to go to ruin 
or fall into the hands of others ; Therefore, 
they, your High Mightinesses' Committee, are 
of opinion that the preservation of those 
countries, and advantages granted originally 
by your High Mightinesses, not to the Direc- 
tors of the Chamber at Amsterdam, but to all 
the Stockholders of the West India Company 
scattered throughout the provinces, demand 
other orders than those issued heretofore for 
the government of the country, the increase 
and establishment of the population, the 
raising and bearing of necessary taxes, the 
prevention of mischiefs and general ruin 
similar to what have been bitterly experienced 
for a few years ; and further, for the effectual 
removal of all sorts of evils and troubles 
which have been fully submitted to your High 
Mightinesses ; And in order, with that view, 
that the complaints of the Nation's subjects 
now heard and examined during the space of 
five months, may be deferred no longer by 
conferences and objections, but be remedied 
by good resolutions; It is, therefore, con- 
cluded that your High Mightinesses do, with 
the advice and communication of the Directors 
now summoned from all the Chambers of 
the West India Company, the major part of 
whom are in attendance, permit the New 



The Directors have never done anything in 
administration and management except in 
presence of their High Mightinesses' deputies 
to the Assembly of the XIX. 

The Commissioners of New Netherland have 
no knowledge that such Boundary proposals 
have been made ; but it can be proved by all 
the letters written by this Chamber to Director 
Stuivesant that the boundary is therein 
particularly recommended ; provided it be 
approved by their High Mightinesses. 



The Directors will not believe that their 
High Mightinesses will repudiate the adminis- 
tration of this Chamber, as it was accorded 
to them by the Assembly of the XIX. in the 
presence of their High Mightinesses' Deputies. 



These mischiefs have occurred without our 
knowledge and order; and when we had 
advices of them we called the late Director 
Kieft home to defend himself. 



These people are themselves the cause of 
their delay, as they did not apply to the proper 
quarter nor deliver their credentials before, 
and until they had sojourned a long time at 
the Hague. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: V. 395 

Netherland Delegates to return this season, to The Directors understand that these people 
encourage and animate all the inhabitants are not fit to contribute anything to the popu- 
there to sedulously attend to the cultivation of lation and its advancement, inasmuch as they 
the soil, the improvement, security and iucrease have set themselves up against the Company 
of the population within their limits. And and its officers, 
accordingly that the otFer respecting the con- 
veyance of passengers and farmers, which 
they made, ought to be speedily accepted and 
executed ; and further, that this Provisional 
Order be enacted and also furnished to them : 



Adriaen van der Donck 1 to the Committee of the States General. 

[From MS. id Ihe Eoyal Archive! at the Hague ; Loketka* of the States General ; Eubric West Indische Compagnie, No. 30 ; 16th division of the 

Bundle. ] 

To the Noble Mighty Lords, the Lords of Heraertsbergen Loo, Velt, van der Hoick and others, 
a Committee on the Redress of the ruined affairs of New Netherland. 

Noble, Mighty Lords. 

The very laudable zeal which their High Mightinesses and you, Noble Mighty, have been 
pleased to evince as well for the preservation of whatever yet remains by God's especial 
blessing in ruined New Netherland as for the restoration of the sad and prostrate affairs there, 
supplies me with confidence and courage to lay before you, Noble Mighty, some means which 
will be highly necessary, and, according to all human calculation, advantageous and profitable 
to their High Mightinesses' design herein. 

The affairs of New Netherland assumed in the beginning a favorable appearance of good 
progress and especial advantage from individuals and particularly from the State ; but the hope 
which everyone there entertained of the proximate establishment of some improvement in that 
quarter, hath been well nigh destroyed, the work, being almost smothered in the birth by 
misgovernment on the part of the officers there as well in oppressing private citizens, as 
by waging unlawful and unnecessary war on their own authority. 

What damage New Netherland hath suffered in consequence of the aforesaid unlawful and 
unnecessary War, which brought it to the brink of ruin — and how much innocent blood, as 
well of heathens as of christians and even of sucklings, hath been unnecessarily and barbarously 
shed, your noble Mightinesses will be able to ascertain from the annexed Points and Articles, 2 
which 1 present to you, not from any particular object I might have against Cornells van 
Tienhoven, but that your noble Mightinesses may have a foundation for the inquiry as to what 
constituted the cause of the country's ruin. The few inhabitants that may still be in New 
Netherland have all along hoped that their High Mightinesses would have passed some 

' This document is without name or date ; 'tis almost certainly by Adriaen van der Donck. — J. A. de Z. 
2 For these points aud articles, see pott, p. 409. — Ed. 



396 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

animadversion on those who were the authors of the aforesaid mischiefs. Knowing that the 
ahovenamed Tienhoven is not only one of the principal authors thereof, but that he actually 
hath sojourned some time here in Fatherland, those people, if they see him arrive yonder from 
Fatherland without being either censured or corrected as the joint author of the aforesaid 
mischiefs, will not only wholly despair and probably in desperation depart thence, perceiving 
that no blame follows in a case so grave, so notorious and familiar to the entire country ; but 
the aforesaid Tienhoven will in consequence be encouraged to aid in strengthening the rule 
over the inhabitants still there, tanquam bellicas, but more stringent, according to the lust 
and appetite of the rulers, as has already unreasonably happened. 

In order not to deprive the inhabitants there wholly of heart, and to afford the 
abovementioned Tienhoven [an opportunity to defend himself,] as well as [to furnish] your 
Mightinesses particular information and knowledge of the truth of the inhuman transaction 
there, your Mightinesses might hear the aforesaid Tienhoven, and cause him to answer the 
annexed interrogatories. If the said Tienhoven will truly answer these questions, the axiom 
quod in coiifitente nullo restant alio partes judicis quam in condemnando, must be put in force against 
him. If, on the contrary, he should obstinately and shamelessly deny the truth thereof, or 
otherwise render it obscure by amphibological, double-meaning or indirect answers, I, through 
the humble duty I owe their High Mightinesses and the love I feel for the preservation and 
prosperity of the present people of New Netherland, am always ready to furnish your 
Mightinesses, or whomsoever their High Mightinesses shall be pleased to empower, ad causam 
Jisci agendam, with such documents and information as shall fully convict the abovementioned 
Tienhoven of notorious falsehoods in his denial. But all this, with the understanding that in 
such matter as concerns the public, I, in no wise intend to enter into a law suit with said 
Tienhoven, in my individual capacity, but, in fact, should said Tienhoven deny the charges, to 
supply such documents as shall be demanded even for his conviction and confusion. 
Jl April, 1650. 



Resolution of the States General on the Provisional Order respecting New 

Netherland. 

[From tho Register of West India Affairs, 163S — 1651, in the Koyal Archives at the Hague.] 

Monday, 11 th April, 1G50. 

FoiioKi. Messrs. van Aertsbergen and other, their High Mightinesses' deputies, for the 

affairs of the West India Company, have submitted and laid before the Assembly, a certain 
Provisional order written Provisional Order respecting the government, preservation and peopling 
m New Nethenand. of New >Netherland> whereupon, deliberation being had, it is resolved and 
concluded, that the aforesaid Provisional Order shall be read to the Assembly on the day 
after to-morrow. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: V. 397 

Resolution of the Slates General authorizing the sending of Arms and Ammunition 

to New Netherland. 

[ From Ihe Eegister of West India Affairs, 1638—1651, io the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Monday, 11 April, 1650. 
Foiiowi. Heard the report of Messrs. van Aertsbergen and other their High Mightinesses 

deputies engaged in the affairs of the West India Company; also read certain memorial 
Delegates from the presented by the Delegates from the people of New Netherland, purporting in 

People of New Ne- ' ' r r b 

theriand. ettect that they have ready, agreeably to their High Mightinesses' order, one 

Guns to be sent to hundred of the two hundred guns in question, with powder and lead in proportion; 
New Netherland. R e q Ues ti n g hereby that Jacob van Kouwenhoven, Captain of the Burghery in 
Netherland, be authorized to distribute the aforesaid guns there at a reasonable price, with the 
knowledge of the Director, Council and Select men, according as the government shall think 
proper. Whereupon deliberation being had, it is resolved and concluded hereby to permit 
and allow the aforesaid Jacob van Couwenhoven to distribute among the people in New 
Netherland, on the aforesaid conditions and modification, the abovementioned hundred guns 
with their accoutrements and appendages, and the petitioners shall be at liberty to send the 
remainder of the guns to New Netherland by another opportunity. 



Delegates from New Netherland to the States General. 

[ From the Original in the Royal Archives at the Hague ; File, West Indie. ] 

To the High and Mighty Lords States General of the United Netherlands. 

High and Mighty Lords. 

The Delegates from New Netherland respectfully represent that they this day, the 12" 1 
April, 1G50, received and had communication of a certain deposition of William Nobel, late 
Surgeon of Captain Blaeuw's yacht La Garse, stating that the Spaniards in the West Indies were 
ignorant of the peace, and both sides still continued hostilities in those parts; also that peace 
has never been proclaimed in New Netherland. And whereas some valuable prizes remain still 
there, the delegates therefore request instruction as to what manner they shall be disposed of, 
Tbeing otherwise of opinion that they may act with them according to circumstances. The 
said deposition states and mentions besides, that Petrus Stuyvesant, the present Director does, 
and disposes of, every thing according to his will and pleasure, without acknowledging, or 
paying auy respect to Lubbert van Dincklagen, the Vice Director who is Doctor utrivsque 
iuris, or to the Nine Select men ; yea, has dared to act and actually does proceed in direct 
opposition to their will, advice and protest, as quite recently demonstrated to their High 
Mightinesses in the sending of horses to Barbadoes. The abovementioned Delegates therefore 
observing the mischiefs to be apprehended in consequence, for this State and the people of New 
Netherland cannot omit remonstrating hereupon most respectfully to your High Mightinesses and 



398 NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

in addition humbly to request them to notify Lubbert van Dincklage, the Vice Director, specially 
— inasmuch as the Director usually retains the general letters to himself or refuses copy or 
sight thereof — that his commission from your High Mightinesses is still in force, and to instruct 
him to adhere to and continue thereby, and not to abate any part thereof out of respect for 
any man. In like manner, that your High Mightinesses may resolve that the Board of the 
Nine elected Select men, whose commission, order and instruction have been exhibited to 
your High Mightinesses, shall, until your High Mightinesses' further commands, remain in full 
force as it was, or ought to have been at the time of our departure from New Netherland, in 
order thus by peaceful means at once, to be able to obviate mischief if contrary to expectation 
any may happen ; for the Delegates are of opinion that the people will not, otherwise, be 
contented, of which fact, abundant verbal information, remonstrance, complaint and memorials 
have been furnished. Requesting your High Mightinesses' speedy action herein, as the vessel 
lies in the Texel, ready to sail, and the Delegates are about to take their departure. 

Appendix, read 12 <ft April, 1650. 

On this day the 12 th April, of this year Sixteen hundred and fifty, before me Martin Beeckman 
admitted Public Notary by the Court of Holland and resident here, and the undernamed 
witnesses, appeared the worthy Wilhelm Noble, of Alckmaer, aged eight and twenty years, 
late Surgeon of Captain Blaeuwvelt, sailing the yacht La Garse belonging to New Netherland, 
who declared and certified, as he hereby doth, on his manly troth, in place of an oath which 
he offers to take at all times, when required, that there had been no intelligence nor 
publication of the peace among the Spaniards in the West Indies, as the captain, skipper, 
surgeon, carpenter, steward, gunner and all the seamen on board the said yacht La Garse, have 
declared on oath, as appears by further Minute thereof remaining with Director Stuyvesant; 
and that consequently, they captured on the 22 nd April, 1649, up in the river Tabasco a bark 
laden with grains of paradise. On the fifth of July, after a long fight they took a ship of four 
guns, laden with logwood ; afterwards, on the 19th July, of the same year, seeing a ship that 
they took to be the prize from which they had been separated, they overtook her about eleven 
o'clock at night and hailed her, crying " Lie to, Pilot," without attempting any thing else. 
But after they understood she was an enemy's ship, they cried out " Strike to the Prince of 
Orange!" and thereupon the man fired five charges of canister shot at us, wounding the 
captain and another, as per the declaration of two impartial passengers, one a Spaniard from 
Canaria, and the other a Frieslander. From these 'tis palpable and clear to be seen that 
there is no knowledge of peace there. Coming subsequently, on the 21 st September, 1649, 
after divers rencounters to New Netherland with our aforesaid bark, having in a storm lost the 
prize which was driven by wind and weather into New England, we applied to Director 
Stuyvesant, who took our declaration under oath, as already stated, promising to write to 
their High Mightinesses on this subject. Wilhelm Nobel hath further declared it to be true 
that public affairs in New Netherland have come to that point that neither the people nor the 
Select men chosen on their behalf, have anything to say, and dare not say anything, but must 
observe silence and hold their peace, as if every thing went on well and to their liking; 
alleging. as a reason for his knowing the circumstance, that the Select men did not speak and 
dare not participate in all this affair. The deponent terminating his declaration here, further 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS : V. 399 

saith not; offering to renew all that is stated above, when required, before all lords, 
courts, judges and justices. Thus attested, on the day aforesaid, at the Hague, in presence 
of Jacob van Couwenhoven and Jan Evertss, hereunto required as witnesses. 



He-solution, of the States General on the preceding Papers. 

[ From the Register of Wc»t India Affairs, 1633 — 1651, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Tuesday, 12 ,h April, 1650. 

Folio 552. Presented to the Assembly, a petition from the Delegates of New Netherland, in 

Nether"iand.° " substance purporting that on this day, 12 ,h April, they received a certain 

deposition of William Nobel, late surgeon on board Captain Blaeuw's yacht La Garsc, 

Spaniards in the representing that the Spaniards in the West Indies were ignorant of the peace; 

V* est 1 nd ies igno- i o r or? 

whU of hi. never tnat k° tn P arties continued hostilities there; and, also, that the peace had never 
Ne e w & r eTheriand.' n Deen proclaimed in New Netherland. And whereas many valuable prizes remain 
Priieithere. there, the above named Delegates request a decision how they are to be dealt with. 

Secondly, that the aforesaid deposition states and mentions besides that Petrus Stuyvesant, 
Director smyvesant. the present Director, does and disposes of, everything according to his will and 
vice Director Dinck- pleasure, without acknowleding or showing any respect to Lubbert van Dincklage, 
the Vice Director, who is a Doctor utriusque juris, or to the nine Select men ; yea, 
dared to act and actually does proceed in direct opposition to their will, advice and protest, 
as quite recently demonstrated to their High Mightinesses in the sending of horses to 
Barbadoes. Whereupon deliberation being had, it is resolved and concluded on the first 
point, that the Director and Government in New Netherland, shall be jointly written to by a 
despatch in triplicate, to publish the peace in every part of that district under the jurisdiction 
of this State, and for this purpose some proclamations with divers copies of the treaty of 
peace, in both languages, shall be sent thither; and that they shall accordingly have to let 
everything be in statu quo. And on the second point, it is resolved that the abovenamed 
Director and Government of New Netherland shall be instructed in aforesaid letter to allow 
the Vice Director and Board of the Nine men to provisionally continue in the respective 
commissions, instructions or offices, until other dispositions shall be made herein by their 
High Mightinesses. 



States General to Director Stuyvesant. 

[ From the Register of Uitgegane Brieven of the Slates General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

To the Director and Government in New Netherland, the XII April, 1650. 

The States General, etc. 
Foiio57. Honorable. Whereas we are informed that the peace has not yet been published 

To publish the ' n New Netherland, and that, therefore, some prizes are still detained there, 
notwithstanding we sent you already, on the 19" 1 May, 1648, some copies of the 



400 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Treaty. We, therefore, have resolved hereby again to direct and command you, that you 
cause on sight hereof, the Peace aforesaid to be proclaimed every where in that district, under 
the jurisdiction of this State, without remaining any longer in default herein; and accordingly 
some proclamations with divers copies of the aforesaid Treaty of peace in both languages, go 
herewith. And you shall allow the Vice Director and the Board of the Nine Men provisionally, 
to continue in their respective commissions and instructions, or offices, until we shall have 
made other dispositions therein. Done xii April, 1C50. 



Resolution of the States General on the Provisional Order respecting New 

Netherlands 

[ From the Register of West India Affairs, 1638 — 1651, In the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Thursday, 14 ,h April, 1650. 

Folio 534. Mr. van Aertzbergen hath again exhibited and laid before the Assembly, the 

order for the gov- Provisional Order respecting the government, preservation and peopling of New 
Netheriand. Netherland. Whereupon, deliberation being had, it is resolved, that the aforesaid 

order shall be placed in the hands of the abovementioned Mr. van Aertzbergen, and the other 
their High Mightinesses' previous deputies, for the affairs of the West India Company, for 
inspection and examination, and to report in writing thereupon. 



Subjects for the Consideration of the Assembly of the XIX. 1650. 

[From the Original in the Royal Archives at the Hague; Loketkcut of the States General; Rubric West Tndlsctts Compagnie^ No. 30; Division 21, 

Document 6. ] 

Extract from the Points of Reference remaining from previous business, on 
which a determination ought to be taken, extracted as far as they have 
reference to New Netherland. Adopted 13 May, 1650. 

On the subject of the management of the Company in this country. 

1. That it be resolved, etc. 

Abroad. 
7. That the Freedoms and Exemptions for the people going to New Netherland, be approved. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS : V. 401 

Draft of Freedoms and Exemptions for New Netlierland. 

[ From the Draft on a half sheet in the Boyal Archives at the Hague ; Lokrtkas of the States General ; Division, West JndUehe Compagnie, No. 80. 

Freedoms and Exemptions granted and allowed by the Incorporated West India 
Company to all those who shall be willing to repair to New Netherland. 
Exhibited 24 May, 1G50. 

That all inhabitants of these United Provinces and other neighboring countries, shall be at 
liberty to repair to New Netherland in the ships of the Company, or even of private persons 
trading under the Company's commission, on condition that they be bound previously to hand 
in their names to the Directors, to be enregistered, and to agree with the skippers for their 
passage money and board, for which purpose the Directors shall take care that said skippers 
shall be ordered to take as many freemen along with them as they can conveniently 
accommodate, and not to overcharge them for passage money and board. 

The aforesaid freemen shall be accepted according to the order of their application, so that 
whoever comes first shall be accommodated first, without any difference; and should it occur 
that more persons present themselves than can be conveyed in the ship or ships lying ready to 
sail, those remaining shall be preferred in the next succeeding vessel ; with this understanding, 
however, that it shall be done forthwith and without any delay in case those remaining over 
be in such number that, with their passage money and board, a ship can be freighted and 
their maintenance provided on the voyage. 

On the arrival of the aforesaid persons in New Netherland, they shall be allowed and 
granted the privilege of choosing and taking up, under quit rent or as a fief, such parcels of 
land as they shall in any way be able to cultivate for the production of all sorts of fruits and 
crops of those parts, on condition that they shall be bound to commence the same within the 
year, on pain of being again deprived of said lands. 

Said persons shall enjoy Exemption from Tenths of all the aforesaid fruits and crops for the 
term of years, and thenceforth one additional year's Exemption for every legitimate 

child they shall convey thither or get there. 

And should any among the aforesaid persons have an inclination to pasture animals, horses 
or cattle, and to support themselves in that way, they shall be shown clean and good pasture 
lands, as far as circumstances will in any wise admit. 

And they shall be at liberty, gratuitously, to cut and draw, and to cause to be cut and drawn, 
from the public forests as much firewood, and as much timber as they shall require for the 
construction of houses and vessels. 

And they shall also enjoy freedom of hunting and fishing in the public woods and streams, 
subject to the regulations to be made therein by the Director and Council. 

And if any one be disposed to settle on a spot not as yet the property of the Company but 
belonging to the natives of the country, he shall be obliged to satisfy them for the soil, which 
can be effected very reasonably and for a few trifles, in presence of some person representing 
the Company. 

Vol. [. 51 



402 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Whoever will desire to erect, as Patroon, a Colonie in New Netherland, shall be also at 
liberty to do so, and for that purpose to look out, either himself or by others, according to 
circumstances ; on condition that he declare that he will undertake to plant therein within 
the space of four years, after giving notice to any of the Company's Chambers here, or to the 
Commander or Council there, a Colonie of one hundred souls above fifteen years old, one 
fourth part thereof within the year, and to ship hence, within three years after sending out of 
the first, making, in all, four years, the balance to the full amount of one hundred persons, on 
pain of losing, by notorious neglect, the freedoms obtained. But he shall be advised that the 
Company reserves unto itself the island of the Manhattes. 

And from the first moment that he shall have signified the places where he intends to plant 
his Colonie, he shall be preferred before all others in the free possession of such lands as he 
shall have selected there ; but in case such places shall not be afterwards agreeable, or a 
mistake occur in the choice of the ground, another opportunity shall be granted to make 
a second selection upon Remonstrance having been previously presented to the Director 
and Council. 

And Patroons shall be at liberty, through their agents, at the place where they intend 
to plant their Colonies, to extend their limits four leagues along the coast, or on one side of a 
navigable river, or two leagues along both sides of one river, and as far inland as the 
circumstances of the occupants will permit; which circumstances shall be considered by, and 
be at the discretion of, the Director and Council there; but as regards the lands situate 
without the bounds of the Colonies, the patroons shall not be entitled to claim any authority 
thereupon, on one pretense or the other, but remain contented with the lands pointed out to 
them, leaving the disposal of the additional lands at the Company's discretion, either to grant 
them to other Patroons or to be possessed and cultivated by private Colonists, in which case 
the Patroons of the respective Colonies, or individual occupants shall be bound to observe 
good neighborhood, and to afford each other free outdrift and issue at the nearest place and 
smallest expense, appealing, at all times, in case of difference, to the decision of the Director 
and Council to be appointed for the time being by the Company. 

All the land situate within the limits aforesaid, together with all the fruits, superficies 
minerals, rivers and fountains thereof, shall the Patroons possess for ever in propriety, with 
high, middle and low jurisdiction, hunting, fishing, fowling and milling, the lands remaining 
allodial ; but the jurisdiction be held as a perpetual hereditary fief, fealty and homage for which, 
when it devolves, shall be renewed to the Company by a pair of iron gauntlets, redeemable 
with 20 guilders within a year and six weeks. 

And should any one in course of time happen to prosper in his Colonie to the degree that he 
would come to plant one or more towns, he shall be authorized to appoint officers and 
magistrates therein, and make use of the title of his Colonie according to the pleasure and quality 
of the persons, all, however, with the knowledge and consent of the Assembly of the XIX. 

Venia testandi.or patent to authorize the disposal of the aforesaid feudal estate by will, shall 
also be granted to all Patroons who request it. 

The Patroons shall also be at liberty to make use of all adjacent lands, rivers and woods of 
any use to them, untill the same be alloted by this Company to other Patroons or individuals. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: V. 403 

Whoever shall send colonists over shall furnish them with proper instructions in order that 
they may be ruled and governed both in police and justice, conformably to the manner of 
government in use here, which instructions they shall previously submit to, and cause to be 
approved by, the Assembly of the XIX., on pain of forfeiting their obtained right and j urisdiction. 

The Patroons and Colonists wishing to prosecute trade, and to send, for that purpose, any 
cargoes by the Company's Ships, shall pay thereupon the same duties as other private 
merchants ; but as regards the necessaries for the Colonists, and implements necessary for 
agriculture, they may be conveyed over for a trifling gratuity, or even for nothing, at the 
discretion of the Board of Directors. 

But in case it be not convenient, or suitable for the Company to send any ships, or if there be 
no room in the sailing vessels, then the Patroons, and also all other private persons, shall be at 
liberty, after having previously communicated their intention to the Company, and obtained 
its written consent, to send thither their own ships or yachts, provided that in going or returning, 
they do not diverge from their ordinary course; and give the Company security to that effect, 
and take an assistant along to be boarded at the expense of the Patroons or of the private 
individuals, and to be paid his monthly wages by the Company; on pain, if acting contrary, of 
forfeiting their obtained right and title to the Colonie. 

And whereas it is the Company's intention to colonize the island of the Manhattes first, the 
staple of all produce and wares accruing on the North river and the country thereabout, shall 
be provisionally there, before they can be sent further, with the exception of those which are 
naturally useless there, or cannot be brought thither without serious damage to the owners; 
in which case, the owners thereof, shall be obliged to give timely notice in writing of such 
inconvenience, to the Company here, or to the Director and Council there, in order that the 
same may be remedied as to the circumstances of the case shall appertain. 

All Patroons, colonists and inhabitants of New Netherland, shall be at liberty to sail to, and 
trade along the entire coast from Florida unto Newfoundland, provided they return with all 
the goods they obtain in barter, first to the island of the Manhattes, and pay five per cent duty 
to the Company, in order, if possible, to be sent thence to the aforesaid countries after proper 
inventory of all the cargo. 1 

Said Patroons, colonists and inhabitants, shall be also at liberty to trade their goods obtained 
there, everywhere on the coast of New Netherland and parts circumjacent thereunto, for all 
sorts of merchandise to be met with there, conditioned that such traders shall be obliged to 
bring to the island of the Manhattes, if it be anywise possible, all the goods that they will be 
able to procure, in order that the Company's dues may be paid, and further that said goods 
be sent by the ships hither, with the knowledge of the Director and Council, or of their 
agents; or if they come to this country, without such having been done, that they be 
discharged, with the Company's knowledge, under proper inventory and payment of the duty 
accrued thereon, on pain of forfeiting said goods or the value thereof. 

The Company promises that it will not take from the service of the Patroons any colonists, 
whether man or women, son or daughter, man servant or maid servant; and should any desire 

1 Om eoo bet mogelyek is, vau daer naer Lelioorlyeke inventarisatie van alle ingeladen goederen, nade voorsehreven lanJen 
gtsonden te werden. 



404 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

the same, that it will not receive, much less permit them to leave the service of their Patroon for 
that of another, except by previously written consent of their Patroon ; and this during such 
term of years as they are bound to their Patroon ; at the expiration whereof, the Patroons 
shall be at liberty to cause the colonists, who may be unwilling to continue in their service, to 
be brought hither, to be then for the first time restored to their freedom ; and should any 
colonist run away to another Patroon, or resume his freedom in violation of his contract, the 
Company also promises to have him, as far as lies in its power, surrendered into the hands of 
his Patroon or his Commissary, to be there proceeded against according to the circumstances 
of the case, agreeably to the practice and uses of this country. 

An appeal shall lie, conformably to the custom of these countries, to the Company's Director 
and Council in New Netherland, or to such government. as shall be established there, from all 
definitive judgments pronounced by the courts of the Patroons, exceeding the sum of one 
hundred guilders, or such as attach infamy; and, also, from all judgments, in criminal cases on 
ordinary prosecutions. 

Whosoever, whether Colonists of Patroons for their Patroons, or Freemen for themselves, or 
other individuals for their masters, shall discover shores, bays or other places suitable for 
fisheries, or for the erection of salt-ponds, may take possession thereof and work them as their 
own absolute property to the exclusion of all others. And the Patroons of Colonists are 
allowed to send ships along the Coast of New Netherland for the fishing of cod, and to proceed 
with their catch directly to Italy or other neutral countries, on condition of paying the 
Company in such case six guilders per last duty ; and should they touch here with their cargo, 
they shall be free [to continue their voyage] but they shall not, under pretext of this, or 
the Company's consent carry any other wares to Italy on pain of arbitrary punishment, the 
Company remaining at liberty to place a supercargo on board of each ship. 

The aforesaid Colonists and free men shall also be at liberty to export and convey all the 
products and crops of the country in their own, or in chartered ships free of duty, to Brazil and 
other places situate in the West India Company's territory, the coast of Guinea excepted. 

But they shall be bound to pay the same duties as the inhabitants of this country on the 
returns which they will obtain for them in trade and import into New Netherland or here ; but 
on Negroes they shall not pay more than 20 guilders per head. 

And in case it happen that the ships of the aforesaid Colonists and Freemen should in going 
or returning overpower any Portuguese prizes, they shall be obliged to convey them forthwith 
either to Brazil, or to New Netherland, or to this country, in order to receive the benefit thereof 
and that they be declared good prizes, on such duty as is paid by other inhabitants of 
this country. 

And in case any of the Colonists should by his industry and diligence happen to discover 
any minerals, precious stones, crystals, marble or such like, also, any pearl fishery, the same 
shall remain the property of the Patroon or Patroons of all such Colonie, on condition of 
allowing the finder such reward as the Patroon shall have, beforehand, stipulated with such 
colonist by contract ; and the Patroons shall be exempt from all such recognition to the 
Company for the term of eight years, and pay for bringing them hither only two per cent ; 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS : V. 405 

and after the expiration of the aforesaid eight years, for duty and freight, the eighth part of 
what they may be be worth in this country. 

The Company will request the High and Mighty Lords States General of the United 
Netherlands to take all Patroons, colonists and inhabitants, whether free or bond, under their 
protection in like marmer as the Company, as far as it lies in its power, is doing; and 
accordingly promises to assist in defending as far as it will be able, with the force it hath there, 
the aforesaid Patroons, colonists and others against all foreign war and violence, on condition 
that said persons shall, on such occurrence, properly defend themselves; for which purpose 
every male person going over there shall be obliged to provide himself, at his own expense, 
with a firelock or musket of the usual calibre. 

The Patroons and Colonists, shall also, particularly endeavor to devise, in the speediest 
manner, some means among themselves whereby they will be able to support a Clergyman and 
School-master, that the service of God and zeal for religion may not grow cool among them ; 
and they shall provide at first for a comforter of the sick there. 

The Company reserves unto itself all great and small tithes, all waifs and estrays, the right 
of establishing mints, highways and forts, declaring war and making peace, all wildernesses, 
planting cities, towns and churches, and all according to the Charter and under the supreme 
sovereign rule of the High and Mighty Lords States General of the United Netherlands ; and 
that, saving unchanged and undiminished whatever is heretofore granted to the Patroons in the 
matter of high, middle and low jurisdiction. 

Accordingly, the Company shall appoint and keep there a Director, competent councillors, 
officers and other ministers of justice, for the protection of the good, and the punishment of the 
wicked; which governor and council, now, or hereafter to be, appointed by the Company, shall 
take cognizance, in the first instance, of affairs appertaining to the freedom, dignity, domain, 
finance and rights of the General West India Company ; of the complaints which any one, as 
well strangers, neighbors of the aforesaid countries as inhabitants thereof, may make in cases 
of privilege, innovation or disuetude of customs, uses, statutes or descents ; with power to declare 
the same corrupt and to abrogate them as vicious, if such should be found equitable ; of matters 
appertaining to minor children, widows, orphans and other unfortunate persons who complain 
first to the Council in order to obtain justice ; of all contracts or obligations; holding prerogative 
jurisdiction, of personal property, possession of benefices, fiefs, of crimen lesas majestatis, of 
religion, and of all criminal cases and excesses being prescribed and unchallenged ; and may 
by prevention receive all persons to be purged of matters brought in accusation against them 
there, and generally take cognizance of, and administer law and justice in every case affecting 
the dignity of the Company. 

Thus done by the Committee of the General Incorporated West India Company in the 
Hague the 

The States General of the United Netherlands having seen and considered the preceding 
Freedoms and Exemptions, have approved and ratified, as their High Mightinesses do hereby 
approve and ratify the same. Requiring and ordering the Director and Council of New 
Netherland to regulate and conduct themselves agreeably thereunto. Done at the Assembly 
of the aforesaid States General, etc. 



40G NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Resolution of the States General in the case of Blommaert et al. against Van Rensselaer. 

[ From the Register of West India Affairs, 163S — 1641, io the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Wednesday, 8 th June, 1650. 
Foik>567. ^ certain letter from the Provincial Court of Holland, Zealand and Friesland, 

Provincial Court of 

Uo "» nd - is exhibited and delivered to their High Mightinesses' Assembly, being attached 

to a sealed bag full of papers relating to the New Netherland case between Samuel 
cuS' Bocii?. lomoiert Blommert cum sociis, plaintiffs against the Guardians of the minor children of 
The GiJrdians of Kiliaen van Renselaer, Defendants ; Whereupon deliberation being had, it is 
aJr ; schndr n en. eaBe " resolved and concluded that the aforesaid letter and bag shall remain sealed and 
deposited in the office of their High Mightinesses' Secretary, until the costs and charges 
which have accrued in the aforesaid case shall have been paid and defrayed. 



Resolution of the States General confirming the Judgment in the case of Blommaert 

et al. against Van Rensselaer. 

[ From Iho Register of West India Affairs, 163S — 1651, in the Koyal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Tuesday, 14 June, 1650. 
Foiio669. Received a letter from the Councillors of Holland, Zealand and Friesland, 

written here at the Hague on the first instant, being, in effect, an answer to their High 
Mightinesses' letter of the 16 lh December, 1649, communicating, pursuant thereunto, a draft 
of judgment prepared by them in the suit instituted before their High Mightinesses between 
Samuel Biommert Samuel Blommert cum sociis, plaintiffs on the one side, and Wouter van Twiller, 
cum soc 'vs. also cum sociis in the quality in which they act, defendants on the other side; 

"Wouter van Twitler, , ... . , .. . __, _ . . 

also cum aociis. Whereupon, deliberation being had, their High Mightinesses have resolved and 
Dictum of judgment, concluded that the aforesaid draft of judgment shall be pronounced, as it is 
inserted here below, and be communicated to parties in the case in this form : 

judgment. In the suits pending before the High and Mighty Lords States General of the 

United Netherlands between Samuel Blommaert, Mr. Johannes de Laet, for himself as well 
as in the name and on the behalf of and as attorney for his sisters and brothers, and Jacomo 
Wessels for himself as well as attorney for his mother, brothers and sisters, and Toussaint 
Tr „. „ Moussart, plaintiffs on the one side, and Wouter Van Twiller, acting for Jan 

Kiliaen van Ken- ' r ° 

seiaer's Executors, yg]^ \> \h executors of Kiliaen van Renselaer, defendants, on the other side. 

Their High Mightinesses having seen the proces-verbal, with the other papers and proofs 
delivered in to them have, after previous mature deliberation and counsel, condemned, as they 
do hereby condemn, the defendants in the quality in which they act, to render to the plaintiffs, 
coionie raiind Ren- as Puttiers ' n the Colonie called Renselaers-Wyck, more fully mentioned in the 
Beiaerb-wyck. su jt, pertinent and due account, proof and reliqua, not in gross, but in detail, 
according to the tenor of the contract of management and administration of the Colonie 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: V. 407 

aforesaid, and its appurtenances possessed by the above named Kiliaen van Renselaer, deceased, 
in his lifetime, and by the defendants, qualitate r/vd, after his death, as well as of all its fruits, 
avails, profits and emoluments by them respectively had and enjoyed; and to tender and pay 
to each of the four plaintiffs one just tenth part of whatever the defendants shall be found, 
by balance, to be indebted to them ; also, to bring to a neutral place and exhibit to the 
plaintiffs all books, letters and papers in any wise concerning the aforesaid Colonie and its 
direction, none excepted, so that they may be preserved there for the behoof of the partners 
of the Colonie aforesaid. 

And further, to regulate themselves strictly, in future, in every particular relating to the 
management of said Colonie and its dependency, and whatever appertains thereunto, agreeably 
to the contract or agreement in the premises, entered into and signed on the first of October, 
16 c and thirty, between Samuel Godyn, Samuel Blommaert, Kiliaen van Rensselaer and 
JohauueB de Laet in the place of Albertus Conrad Burch ; and that, accordingly, when the 
fief shall be taken up in the name of Kiliaen van Rensselaer's son and his successors, it be 
well and faithfully expressed in the Patent, that to the aforesaid Kilaen van Rensselaer's son 
and his successors, belongs no greater superiority or authority than to the aforesaid plaintiffs, 
his equals and partners in the aforesaid Colonie, except simply the title of Patroon, provided 
always, that the management of the aforesaid Colonie shall consist, according to the aforesaid 
agreement, of four persons or votes, to wit, the defendants presenting two votes, and the 
aforesaid Blommaert or Moussart one vote, and the heirs of Johannes de Laet, deceased, or 
the widow and heirs of Adam Wessels, the fourth vote ; and to pay the costs of this suit, for 
reasons their High Mightinesses thereunto moving. 

Thus resolved and pronounced, in the Assembly of the High and Mighty Lords States 
General, on the 14 ,h June, XV1 C and fifty. 

(On one side was written) 

I, the undersigned, have removed from the office of their High Mightinesses' Secretary, the 
bag of papers between Samuel Blommert and Johannes de Laet, cum sociis, plaintiffs against 
Jan van Wely and Wouter van Twiller, as Guardians of the children of Kiliaen van Renselaer, 
defendants. Done the 17 th June, 1650. 

C. SCHENCK. 

I, the undersigned, have removed from the office of their High Mightinesses' Secretary, the 
bag of papers of the Guardians of the minor son of Kiliaen van Rensselaer, defendants 
against Samuel Blommert cum sociis, plaintiffs. Done the ? lb October, 1650. 

Henrice Bernantz. 



Resolution of the States General granting Letters of Protection to Cornelis Melyn. 

[ From the Register of West India Affairs, 1688 — 1051, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Thursday, 30 th June 1650. 
Foiio 572. Read in the Assembly the petition presented to their High Mightinesses in the 

comeiis Meiyn. name, and on the behalf of Cornelis Melyn, colonist on Staten Island in New 



40S NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Netherland. It is hereby resolved and concluded after previous deliberation, for reasons therein 
set forth, to grant to the petitioner proceeding to New Netherland, letters of 
Dir«*orsmyw«int p ro t e ction against what Director Stuivesant or any other person, be he who he 
may, might bring forward in virtue of the aforesaid sentence of banishment, against the 
aboveuamed petitioner. And the letters of protection aforesaid shall remain in force and be 
valid so long as the suit which the abovenamed Petitioner hath instituted against the 
abovenamed Director Stuivesant shall remain pending and undetermined before their High 
Mightinesses here. 



Letter of Protection in favor of Cornelis Mdyn. 

, [ From the Acte-Boek of the States General, in the Eoyal ArchiTes at the Hague. ] 

Letter of Protection and Safeguard for Cornelis Melyn, Patroon and Colonist on 
Staten Island in New Netherland, permitting him to return thither. 

Folio 112. The States General of the United Netherlands. To all those who shall see 

these or hear them read. Be it known : That We have granted on the 2S ,h April 164S, unto 
Cornelis Melyn, Patroon and Colonist on Staten Island in New Netherland, provision of appeal, 
with inhibitory clause from the sentence which was pronounced against him by Peter 
Stuyvesant, Director of New Netherland under the jurisdiction of the West India Company, 
with the advice of his Council, on the 25 th July of the year 1647. And whereas the aforesaid 
suit is not yet terminated and the actual circumstances of the petitioner do not by any means 
admit of his longer sojourn in this country, Therefore, We, after previous deliberation, have 
granted and accorded, as We do hereby grant and accord unto him, safe conduct and passport 
to repair freely from this country back again to New Netherland aforesaid, the abovementioned 
suit notwithstanding ; and he shall be accordingly at liberty to dwell there on his property 
unmolested and undisturbed by any person whatsoever, during the time that the suit remains 
here undecided ; the petitioner having empowered a person here to defend his right in or out 
of court against the said sentence. Wherefore We order and command all and every person 
being in our service and under our obedience, whom this may in any wise concern, either in 
this country, on the passage, or in New Netherland, and especially the abovenamed Stuyvesant 
and his Council that they shall cause and allow the abovenamed petitioner to enjoy the-full 
effect hereof, and accordingly, not to molest him in his person nor in any wise to be hindering 
unto him, on pain of incurring our highest indignation. Given at the Hague, under our seal, 
paraph and signature of our Secretary, the 30 th June XVI° and fifty. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: V. 409 

Resolution of the States General approving the preceding Letter. 

[ From the Register of West India Affairs, 1033 — lflSl, in the Eoyal Archives at the Hague. J 

Friday, l n July, 1650. 
Polio 572. The draft of the letters of protection prepared pursuant to their High 

corneiu Meiyn. Mightinesses' order of yesterday, for the behoof of Cornelis Melyn, going to 
New Netherland, being read in the Assembly, it is, after previous deliberation, considered as 
enacted, and moreover ordered to be issued. 



lie-solution of the States General ordering Secretary van Tienhoven, to be examined. 

[ From the Eegister of West Indi3 Affairs, 1638 — 1651, in the Eoyal Archives al the Hague ] 

Thursday, 21 st July, 16-50. 

Foiio5rr. After previous deliberation, it is hereby resolved and concluded, to request and 

authorize Mess" van Aertsbergen and the other, their High Mightinesses' deputies for the 
affairs of the West India Company, to take the trouble to cause Secretary Cornelis van 
Tienhoven, at present here, to be heard and examined by M r Harman van Zuylen van Nyevelt, 
in their presence and that of some of the Directors of said Company, and to answer 
sew Netherlands categorically on certain points and articles relating to New Netherland, exibited 
and shown this day to the Assembly; which shall accordingly be placed in the hands of 
Mess" their High Mightinesses' deputies. 

And their High Mightinesses shall report at their convenience, on said subject. Then the 
deputies, on behalf of the Province of Friesland, gave notice hereupon, that they are not 
concerned in this matter. 



Interrogatories to be proposed to Secretary van Tienhoven. 

[ From the Original in the Eoyal Archives at the Hague; LokeOaa of the States General ; Division, IPes* Inducht Compaqnie, No. 25. ] 

Points and articles to which the High and Mighty Lords States General, or their 

deputies should instruct, and consequently order and command Secretary 

Cornelis van Tienhoven to render categorical answers. Exhibited 21 

July, 16-50. 

1. 

Can he, Cornelis van Tienhoven, understand and speak the Indian language? 

2. 
\\ as he not usually employed in Director Kieft's time, as the medium through whom 
communications were made to the Indians.' 
V ul. I. r r-i 



410 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

3. 
Hath he, the Secretary, not exacted tribute from the Indians? 

4. 
By whose order did he do so ; by the Directors at Amsterdam, or by order of Kieft only ? 

5. 
Was it not done with the knowledge and approbation of the entire Council in New 

Netherland? 

6. 

When did it occur? 

What debates and controversies took place on both sides between the Indians and our 
people; did the Indians allow or refuse such tribute, and how many tribes had notice of it? 

7. 
In what year was he, Tienhoven, sent down to the Raritans by Kieft ? 

8. 

Did he not go thither with a party of armed soldiers and sailors, under the command of 
Hendrick Gerritsen, skipper of the Neptunus? 

9. 

By whose order, and with what result was he there ; and was not the supercargo of the 
Neptunus, named Ross, killed by the Indians in that expedition ? 

10. 

Did not the Raritans, in the course of the following year, avenge themselves at Staten 
Island, by killing four tobacco planters of David Pietersen de Vries, whose house they burnt? 

11. 

Did not the Raritans afterwards make peace with our people ? 

12. 

Did not the Raritans, after the peace, keep always quiet, and abstain from all acts of 
open hostility against our people, even during the general war with the other Indians? 

13. 

Did not one of the Wickwaskeck Indians kill one Claes Cornelissen Switz in revenge 
for the murder of one of his relatives, who was slain by three of Commander Binnewitz' ' 
farm servants? 

14. 
Did he, Tienhoven, not assist in making peace for that affair with those of Wickwaskeck at 
the house of Jonas Bronck ? 

1 Sic. Minuit. — Ed. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: V. 411 

15. 
Was any proposal made to the 12 men by, or in the name of Director Kieft, to 
commence, on account of that murder, a war against those Indians? 

16. 

Did not the Twelve men advise not to commence a war on account of the murder committed 
on the aforesaid wheelwright? 

17. 

Did not Director Kieft subsequently forbid the Twelve men to hold any more meetings, 
saying they were of dangerous tendency, injurious to the country and the Director's authority? 

13. 
Did not the Indians live thenceforward in peace with the Dutch up to the year 1042 
inclusive, except a Hackquinsack, who killed Gerrit Janssen, M r van Nederhorst's servant? 

19. 
For what reason did the Hacquinsack kill the abovenamed Gerrit Janssen ? 

20. 
Did he, Secretary Tienhoven himself, not draw up and write a petition in the name of the 
people of New Netherland, wherein Director Kieft was solicited to allow war to be 
proclaimed against the Indians? 

21. 

Did all the people ask him, Tinehoven, to do this? If not, why did he use the name of 

all the people? 

22. 

Was not the petition signed by all those who requested him to draw it up ? If not, why 
did he not permit all to sign it? 

23. 

Let him state the names of those who requested him to draw up said petition ; especially, 
if they were not Maryn Adriaensen, Jan Claessen Damen and Abraham Planck? 

24. 
What relationship exists between him, Tienhoven, and Jan Damen and Abraham Planck ? 

25. 
What are the terms of the petition and of the postil or order upon the petition, and the tenor 

or contents thereof? 

26. 

Were not he, Tienhoven, and Corporal Hans Steen sent on the 24 ,h February, 1643, to 

the Indians, at Pavonia, near Jan Evertsen Bout's bouwerie, before and previous to any 

attack on them ? 

27. 

For what purpose and with what instruction and result, was he there ? 



412 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

28. 

How many tribes were there at that time and what report did he make of them to 

the Director'? 

29. 

Had not the Indians at that time fled there from the Maykanders, their enemies, in the 
hope of being protected by our people? 

30. 
Was not a mysterious toast drank at an entertainment at the house of Jan Damen, by some 
few, though not by all then present, without the major part having been aware what it meant? 

31. 
What was this mysterious toast, and what was its purport? 

32. 

On the request expressed in the aforesaid petition, was not a troop of soldiers dispatched 

by Director Kieft's order, in the night between the 25 th and 26 th February, 1643, to Pavonia, 

near Jan Evertsen Bout's bouwerie, to the place where the Indians lay? Also, another 

party under the command of Maryn Adriaensen, behind Curler's plantation, for the 

purpose of falling on the Indians there, whilst they slept, and acting towards them as they 

found expedient? 

33. 

Did not both these expeditions attack, shoot and slay in their sleep a large number of these 
Indians with their wives and children, including even innocent sucklings, and set fire to 
their huts? 

34. 

Had the Dutch residing at the Flat land any warning to be on their guard? 

35. 

Did the people, especially those dwelling at the Flat land, not immediately express 
dissatisfaction at this sudden and unexpected slaughter? 

36. 

Was it perpetrated after previous deliberation of the entire Council in New Netherland and 
with its approbation ? 

37. 

Did not the general war follow these acts when the Indians sought to avenge themselves? 

38. 

When the heads of certain slain Indians were brought to the Manhatans, did not Secretary 
Tienhoven's mother-in-law exult over the circumstance, and with her feet kick the heads 
which were brought in? 

39. 

Was she not then upbraided by the women that her husband and brothers-in-law had 
originated this war, and also caused their husbands to be in consequence daily slain by 
the Indians? 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: V. 413 

40. 
Did not the soldiers, in cold blood, and before all the world, cut and stab with knives, one 
of the two Indian prisoners at the guard-house who had been brought from Heemstede, and 
were not living slices cut from the other's body, and whilst he was still alive, were not his 
privy parts cut ofl'in the Beaver's path where they afterwards cut offhis head? 

41. 

Were not Kieft and La Montagne also present when the slices were cut from the living 
body? 

42. 

Have the Indians taken any occasion to do the like to those of our people whom they 
took prisoners 

43. 

Hath not Director Kieft kept scouts who showed our soldiers the Indians that lay scattered 
far and wide, and whose abode was not known to our people ? 

44. 

Did not Director Kieft with gross neglect and inattention allow some favorable opportunities 
to slip, when he brought the war on the people ? 

45. 
How many head of cattle were lost by the war? 

46. 
How many houses, bouweries and such like property burnt and destroyed? 

47. 
How many Indians and how many Christians lost their lives in this war? 

4S. 

Did not Director Kieft endeavor to throw the responsibility of this war on the people, 
especially on the petitioners? 

49. 

Did not Maryn Adriaenssen, an old freebooter and one of the abovementioned petitioners, 
endeavor to shoot Kieft with a pistol, which he presented at his breast, for the very reason 
that he, Kieft, accused him of being one of the originators of the war ; and was he not 
prevented by Jean de la Montagne, Kieft's Councillor, who let the hammer snap on his thumb ? 

50. 
Was not Maryn Adriaenssen imprisoned, and what happened to him subsequently? 

51. 

Whilst Maryn Adriaenssen was imprisoned, did not Jacob Slangh come into the fort with a 
gun on his shoulder, demanding of Kieft, whether he will liberate Maryn Adriaensen or not? 
and aiming at the same time at Kieft, did not Slangh fire at him as he stood at his door? 



414 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

52. 

Was not said Jacob Slangh thereupon forthwith shot as an enemy, and his head stuck on 

a post ? 

53. 

Did not Jan Damen also tell Kieft to his face and in the presence of the Eight men and of 
him, the Secretary, that he was not a cause of the war, and that he had signed the petition 
through Kieft's misrepresentation, which declaration was made when the other seven Select 

men refused to sit with him ? 

54. 

Did not Jan Damen at the time state in public, that Kieft had suggested to him under a 
mysterious toast, the necessity of such operations, and place the responsibility of the mischiefs 
openly on Kieft's own suggestion and proposal ? 

55. 
Did not the Select men complain to the Board of Directors in Fatherland of the injuries they 

had suffered from this war? 

56. 

Was not their letter sent back by Director Stuyvesant? 

57. 
What order did Stuyvesant take over, and from whom? 

58. 
What inquiry or proceeding did Stuyvesant hereupon make and institute? 

59. 
Finally, what was the cause or foundation of the commencement of this war? 

(Endorsed) 

Interrogatories on which Cornelis van Tienhoven is to 
be heard. 



Extracts from the Papers of Director Kieft. 

[From copies in the Royal Archives at the Hague; Loketkasof the States General; Division, West Indiaclie Compagnie^No. 25.] 

Extracts from the papers in Director William Kieft's copy book which he hath 
taken with him to Holland. Received £f July, 1650. 

Proposals of the Honorable Director and Council to the Commonalty. 

First. Is it not right and proper to punish the scandalous murder lately perpetrated by a 
savage on Claes Swits ; and in case the Indians do not surrender the murderer to our demand 
is it not right to destroy the whole village to which he belongs? 

Secondly. In what manner and at what time should it be done? 

Thirdly. By whom shall it be executed ? 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: V. 415 

The Commonalty of New Netherland assembled by the Director's order, to 
answer three Articles proposed by him, do say thereunto as follows : 

To the I s '. We deem it in every respect expedient that the murderer should be punished as 
the Director proposes, but subject to God and opportunity ; and meanwhile, everything necessary 
ought to be provided and the Director ought, especially, to get 200 coats of mail (malj rockm) 
from the North as well for the soldiers as for the freemen who will pay for their own share 
of them. 

On the 2 d . And that a friendly traffic be carried, in the meantime, yea, until the maize trade 
be over, and until an opportunity and God's will be made manifest; also, that no one, be his 
rank what it may, commit any hostility on land or water, against the Indians, the murderer 
excepted ; meanwhile, let every one be on his guard; that when the Indians are out hunting 
we shall divide ourselves into two parties, to wit, one to land about the Archipelago, 1 and the 
other at Wyquaesquec in order to harass them in this wise, from two directions; and that the 
Director shall employ hereunto as many of the strongest and most active of the Negroes as he 
can conveniently spare and provide them with a small ax and half-pike. 

To the 3 d . The people say, as they know no other superior than the Director, who is as well 
their as the soldier's commander, that to prevent all disorder, the Director shall personally 
lead the expedition, in which case the people are resolved personally to attend him. 

Finally, for the purpose of lulling the suspicions of the Indians without using any threats, 
we consider it prudent that the Director send a sloop again 1. 2. (al 3 times, peaceably to 
demand the murderer, in order then to put him to death. 

The Commonalty have, moreover, chosen the undernamed twelve persons, and empowered 
them to resolve on everything with the Director and Council ; they also took the oath, 2 
namely — (Signed,) Jacques Bentyn, [Maryn Adriaensen], Jan Damen, Hendrick [Jansen], 
tailor, David Pietersen [de Vries], Jacob Stoffelsen, Abraham Molenaer, Frederick Lubbertsen, 
[Jochim Pietersen], Jacob van . . . ., Gerrit Dircksen, George Kapalie, Abraham Planck. 

Ady 29 th August, 1G41, in fort Amsterdam. 

Resolution adopted by the Twelve Men empowered by the whole of the People. 

Whereas we, burghers and inhabitants of New Netherland, previously invited and requested 
by Willem Kieft, Director General and the Council of New Netherland, and with the consent 
of all the rest of the inhabitants, our fellow-brethren, have been unanimously elected to answer 
the proposition of the Hon ble Director and Council, and to give our advice according to our 
best knowledge and understanding; Therefore, three articles were then proposed to us, 
whereupon we gave answer and expressed ourselves according to the best of our opinions and 
belief, to which we unanimously refer. 

And whereas, the most favorable time and opportunity for our nation now offer, which, 
according to previous resolution ought to be considered; we, therefore, request the Hon ble 
Director, Willem Kieft, to proceed, whereunto we offer our persons to follow him faithfully, 

1 The Norwalk Islands. 

3 "to keep their advice secret." New -York Colonial Manuscripts, IV., from which \vc add the names in brackets. — Ed. 



416 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

and it is necessary he himself accompany us to prevent all disorder; the Hon h,e Director shall 
also provide powder, ball, and the provisions necessary for the expedition, such as bread and 
butter, together with a steward, so that everything may he in order, and the rations served ; 
and if any one require more than bread and butter, he must provide it himself. 

Also, if it happen, which may God Almighty please to forbid, that one or more of the 
freemen be seriously wounded in the expedition, or in the attack on the enemy, the Honble 
Director and Council shall remain bound, on the part of the Hon ble West India Company, to 
support him or them, that they may live comfortably with their families; and to have a simple 
wound cured at said Company's expense. 

Ady, 21 st January, 1642, in New Netherland. 

Extract from the Register of Resolutions kept by Director Willem Kieft and 
Council, in New Netherland. 

Whereas the good inhabitants here have occupied their property up to this time in great 
alarm, and cautiously cultivated the soil through fear of the Indians, who have in a treacherous 
manner murdered some of our nation without any provocation, and we, by indulgence, cannot 
obtain any satisfaction, recourse must therefore be had to arms for the purpose of defending 
our right, in order that we may live here in peace, with full confidence that God will bless our 
resolution, the rather as the people themselves on the 22 nd February, 1643, requested that they 
may put the same in execution. Wherefore, we hereby authorize and empower Maryn 
Adriaensen, on his petition, to attack with his company a party of Indians lying behind Curler's 
Hook or plantation, and to act with them as they shall find expedient, as time and 
circumstances will permit. 

Done 25 th February, 1643. 

Petition of the Inhabitants of Long Island. 

We, the undersigned, inhabitants and subjects residing on Long Island, under 
the jurisdiction of the Hon ble Lords, the Mighty Lords States General 
of the United Netherlands, the Serene Prince, his Highness, and the 
General Incorporated West India Company, and under your Hon ble 
government. 

Request with all humble submission — -whereas, a short time ago the scum 1 of this place, 
which is justly called our fatherland, hath revolted against the righteous side, our common 
friends; and whereas, we see their preparation for hostilities tending to the ruin and 
destruction of the inhabitants there who are under the necessity of earning, by steady labor, 
in fields and woods, food and support for their wives and children, each for himself, and 
conjointly for us all, regarding the inconveniences which must spring therefrom, do request 
as above, and humbly pray, in all respectful obedience — that we, in general, may be granted 
and allowed such public enemy to ruin and conquer, and, further, from time to time, unto the 

1 The word iu the text is " bescherminge, " protection ; but being unable to make sense of the passage with that word, 'tis 
presumed to be an error of the copyist for " beachuiminge." — Ei>. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS : V 417 

establishment of our common peace and welfare, so that at once the previous and much wished 
for peace of this place, may be and remain permanent. This doing in the name of us all 

(Signed) Gerrit Wolffersen. Jacob Wolfersen. 

DlRCK WoLFFERSEN. HaNS HANSEN. 

and Lambert Huybertsen Mol. 

Postil. 

We cannot at present resolve to attack the Indians at Mareckkawich, as they have not given 
us hitherto any provocation, and as it would draw down an unrighteous war on our heads, 
especially as we are assured that they would be on their guard and hard to beat, and apparently 
excite more enemies, and be productive of much injury to us, whilst we trust that it will, 
through God's mercy, now result in a good issue. 

But in case they evince a hostile disposition, every man must do his best to defend himself. 

Meanwhile each must be on his guard and arm himself, as is done here according as time 
and circumstances shall best determine. 

In presence of the Hon hle Director, the Fiscal, Everardus Bogardus, preacher, Hendrick van 
Dyck, Ghysbert Op Dyck, and OlofT Stevensen. 

Done the 2? tb February, A° 1643, in fort Amsterdam, New Netherland. 



Extract from the Register of the resolutions of the High and Mighty Lords States 
General of the United Netherlauds. Tuesday, the 9 lh August, 1650. 

[ Omitted, being a duplicate of Document post, p. 418. ] 



Report of the Committee of the States General on MelyrHs Papers. 

[ From the Original in the Boyal Archives at the Hague; Lokethu of the States General; Division, West IndUcfo Conipagnie, No. 25.] 

Your High Mightinesses' deputies for the affairs of the West India Company, having 
examined the petition and papers thereunto annexed, delivered in by Coruelis Melyn, and 
being instructed to extract therefrom the matter for consideration, have reported that the 
points therein set forth are of two sorts : private and public. 

The private points consist in the suing and prosecuting of a Mandamus on appeal, obtained 
by the abovenamed C. Melyn against Peter Stuivesant, Director in New Netherland, and 
Cornells van Tienhoven, Secretary, for a certain sentence pronounced by the Director 
and Council against him, the petitioner. 

Thereunto the aforesaid Cornelis Tienhoven duly presents himself in writing, and requests 
that your High Mightinesses would fix a certain early day when the appellant in the case 
should be obliged to enter his complaint, &c. 

The public points contained therein are principally, the provoking and undertaking an 
unnecessary and bloody war against the natives of New Netherland, friends there of the 

Vol. I. 53 



418 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

subjects of these United Netherlands, to the destruction of the infant settlements and 
population of New Netherland ; therein he accuses the abovenamed Cornelis van Tienhoven 
to have been the chief fomenter and party in provoking and fostering the destructive 
war aforesaid. 

The inquiry as to the cause, the authors and management of the aforesaid bloody and 
ruinous war is considered by your High Mightinesses' Deputies and the associate Directors, to 
be necessary and essential, and with this view, that the aforesaid Cornelis van Tienhoven be 
ordered not to depart for New Netherland until he shall be heard in the matter aforesaid on 
certain interrogatories committed for that purpose to paper and annexed hereuuto, nor until 
this case be disposed of. 



.»..»..«. 



Resolution of the States General on the preceding Report. 

I From the Register of West India Affairs, 1638 — 1651, in the Eoyal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Tuesday, 9 ,h August, 1650. 

Folio 579. The report being heard of Mess" van Aertsbergen and others their High 

Mightinesses' previous deputies for the affairs of the West India Company, having in virtue of 
secretary Cornelis the resolution of the 21" of July last, caused Secretary Cornelis van Tienhoven 

van Tienhoven. "* J 

to be heard and examined by the advocate M r Herman van Zuylen and Nyevelt, 
in presence of themselves and some Directors of said Company ; also to answer to certain points 
war in New Ncth- and articles respecting the war in New Netherland, submitted and exhibited to 

crlaud. r ° 

their High Mightinesses on the day aforesaid ; it is, after previous deliberation, 
resolved and concluded that copy of aforesaid points and articles be furnished, at his own 
expense, to the aforenamed Secretary Cornelis van Tienhoven, who shall be obliged to answer 
and file his reply thereunto within eight days after the receipt thereof; and meanwhile remain 
here at the Hague without departing. The Lords of Friesland have hereupon repeated their 
previously made declarations. 



Director Stuyvesant to the States General. 

[From the Original in the Koyal Archives at the Hague ; File, West Jndie.) 

Right Honorable High and Mighty Lords. 

My Lords. 

Your High Mightinesses' letters have been duly received by us. Your High Mightinesses 
were pleased to advise us in the first, of your continual care for peopling and advancing this 
place, being yel engaged through your High Mightinesses' deputies, with the Directors of the 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: V. 419 

Incorporated West India Company in establishing a permanent arrangement in the matter. 
Meanwhile your High Mightinesses have permitted some persons belonging to the Commonalty 
sent hence to return here, with inhibition to disturb or prosecute them for what they have 
represented. We first of all tender your High Mightinesses all possible thanks (or your 
precaution under so many weighty troubles. Respect for that and for your High Mightinesses' 
sovereign authority obliges and induces us to observe your High Mightinesses' orders in 
regard of the other, Rendering unto your High Mightinesses' letters full credit and 
obedience; meanwhile the returned Remonstrants bring with them, as they report and also 
exhibit to strangers, an authentic copy of the signed resolution of your High Mightinesses' 
deputies whereby we are, among other things, commanded to appear before your High 
Mightinesses to answer some charges. Although we have demanded copy of that resolution 
which has been communicated and read to some officers and inhabitants of this city, and even 
to foreigners, yet hath it been refused us up to the present time, so that we know not what to 
answer thereunto, much less what to do. 

Right Honorable, High and Mighty Lords — On being released by those to whom we are bound 
by oath, we shall not fail to appear before your High Mightinesses, on your summons, being 
ourselves conscious of not having committed anything worthy of punishment, either against your 
High Mightinesses' grandeur, oragainst the tenor of yourCommission, or contrary toour recorded 
oath, or to the injury or prejudice of the public interest. We can therefore object nothing 
against the accusation presented by our inveterate opponents, who, we understand, are many and 
powerful, but a reply in the negative, together with an humble prayer that our secret accusers 
may appear personally before your High Mightinesses with their suborned witnesses, in order to 
convict us, in the usual course of law to our shame, disgrace and confusion, or in default of 
proof, to revoke the charge and to indemnify us for the damage and disgrace we have sustained. 
The first, which is vouchsafed, saving your High Mightinesses' authority and judgment, to the 
meanest offenders, belongs also to us, a freeborn citizen of a free State ; the last as a public 
functionary, favored and intrusted with your High Mightinesses' commission ; though aiming 
at or desiring as a Christian, no man's damage or disgrace through a spirit of vengeance, 
yet as a man and public officer we cannot, without personal degradation, permit suffered insults 
to go unreproved, according to the instruction of Seneca: Ad calumnias taccndum non est vt 
contradicendo nos ulciscamur scd nc taccndo menducio nos nffcnsum progressum permiltamus. It pains 
us, therefore, that former pretending friends who, on their departure and setting out from this 
place, freely and unsolicited thanked us as their father, swearing with an oath, as well to our 
face as behind our back, that they had nothing, either against us or against our government, 
nor would they trouble themselves with any private affairs, should afterwards, when 
contradicting their own oath and conscience, not be obliged to answer legally for their 
calumnious and unfounded accusations. Nevertheless your High Mightinesses' good intention 
shall serve us, in these and other commands, as a rule to govern ourselves under them with 
patience and obedience until the Almighty grant another result. 

Your High Mightinesses' commands regarding the exportation of cattle shall be observed as 
far as possible, but time will determine whether it will not create disgust among the English 
people residing under our jurisdiction, inasmuch as they live only by trade in grain and cattle. 
In order to avoid trouble, we shall use all possible moderation; were we provided with money 
and goods to enable us to purchase all the grain and cattle that might be offered, we should 
have it in our power to enforce your High Mightinesses' orders with greater rigor. 



420 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

As soon as we received the proclamations of the Peace, we caused them to be published and 
posted in all the towns and villages of this our government, and had previously ordered a 
cessation of hostilities on the strength of public rumor and on the advices of our superiors. 

Herewith, Right Honorable, High and Mighty Lords, we commend you to the grace and 
favor of the Most High, and shall be and remain, 

Your High Mightinesses' obedient 

and faithful servant. 
Dated Manhatans, In Fort Amsterdam, (Signed) P. Stuyvesant. 

in New Netherland, this 17 th August, 1G50. 

Addressed as follows : 

Noble, High and Mighty Lords, the Noble Lords States General of the United 
Netherlands, at the Hague. 



He-solution of the States General on the foregoing Letter. 

[ From the Register of West India Affairs, 1638 — 1651, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Saturday, 15 ,h October, 1650. 

Foiio 6ns. Received a letter from Director Stuivesant, written at Manhatans, in Fort 

Director stuvvesant. Amsterdam, in New Netherland, the 17 lh August last, in answer to their High 
Mightinesses' previous despatch. Whereupon no action was had. 



Selectmen of New Amsterdam to the States General. 

[ From the Register of Ingekomen Bri«ven of the States General, in tho Royal Archives at the Hagne. ] 

High and Mighty Lords. Gracious Sovereigns. 

Foiio ceo. Our associates, Jacob van Couwenhoven and Jan Everts Bout, who were 

delegated last year, 1649, to your High Mightinesses, by our Assembly, in consequence of the 
extremely urgent necessity of the poor distressed people of this country, returned here, through 
God's mercy, on the 2S th June, bringing with them an authentic copy of the Report, or 
Provisional Order, drawn up and submitted to your High Mightinesses, by your Committee 
deputed for the affairs of New Netherland in the matter of the Redress, Preservation 
and Population. 

That we have not, as yet, received your High Mightinesses' ratification thereof is, we 
confidently trust, owing solely to the tedious and dangerous voyage, for we have seen and 
found your High Mightinesses to be our beloved fathers, who have been pleased to take to 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: V. 421 

heart the sorrowful condition and extreme necessity of this poor, distressed people. We 

cannot express nor render sufficient thanks to our Gracious God and your'lligh Mightinesses, 

which the love and affection exhibited towards us, can sufficiently do. And perceiving that the 

Redress has not yet arrived, and that your High Mightinesses' letters have been handed, on 

said 2S' h June, by our aforesaid associates to Director General Stuyvesant and Council, who 

are pleased, as yet, not to obey your High Mightinesses' said order, except only in proclaiming 

Peace with the King of Spain, which hath been done here at the Manhatans but nowhere 

else, to our knowledge; and as the distressed state of this country remains unchanged — 

except by getting from bad to worse, as we have informed our associate, Adriaen van der 

Donck, — we are, therefore, to our grief and sorrow, obliged to apply to your High Mightinesses 

in this wise, and to implore your favor. We pray you, High and Mighty, to be graciously 

pleased to remove our suffering, for so long as we are here without the Redress, we cannot be 

relieved. Hoping, therefore, that it will soon arrive to comfort and console us, we, in 

conclusion, shall commend you, High and Mighty, generally and individually, and your 

prosperous and good government to God's protection, remaining your High Mightinesses' 

most humble and most faithful subjects, 

(Signed) Augustin Hermans. Magchiel Jans. 

Jacob van Kouwenhoven. Thomas Holl. 

Elbert Elbertsen. Oloff Stevens. 

Hendrick Hendricksen Kip. Govert Loockermans. 
Lower stood, 

By order of the Selectmen, 

(Signed) D. v. Schelluyne. 
(In the margin was,) 

At the Assembly of the Selectmen, the 13 th September, 1650. New Amsterdam, Manhatans, 
New Netherland. 



Resolution of the States General on a Remonstrance of Adriaen van der Donck. 

[From the Register of West India Affairs, 1G3-3 — 1G51, in the Royal Archives at the Uague. ] 

Friday, lS th November, 1650. 
Folio mo. Read to the meeting the Remonstance of Adriaen van der Donck, a delegate 

Adriaen van der f . . „ ,. T _. , . » 

i*>nck. lrom the people of New iMetnerland. 

Received, also, a letter from the Selectmen there, written in New Amsterdam the 13 th of 
Redress in the mat- last September, both praying Redress in the matter of the disorders which exist, 

ter of the disorders . . - T , , „ . - 

in New Netherland. prevail and manliest themselves more and more in JNew Netherland aforesaid. 

Herewith were, likewise, exhibited two sealed private letters addressed from said country to 
M r van Aertsbergen, at present absent, and to other their High Mightinesses' deputies. 

Whereupon deliberation being had, it is resolved and concluded that the aforesaid 
remonstrance, with said public and private letters be placed, altogether, in the hands of Mess" 
Huygens, and other their High Mightinesses' Deputies for the affairs of New Netherland to 
inquire into the business relating hereunto lately under consideration here, and to look further 



422 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

therein, to examine the aforesaid remonstrances and letters, and to report on the whole. In 
the absence of, or in case of inconvenience to, the one or the other of the Lords, those present 
may proceed and dispatch the aforesaid business. 



Secretary van Tienhoveris Answer to the Remonstrance from New NeiJierland. 

I From the MS. In the Eoyal Archives at the Hague ; Loketkaa of the States General ; Rubric West Indische Compagnie, No. 80; 15th division of 

the Bundle.] 

Brief Statement or Answer to some of the points contained in the written 
Deduction laid by Adriaen van der Donck cum sociis before the High and 
Mighty Lords States General : Drawn up by Cornell's van Tienhoven, 
Secretary to the Director and Council of New Netherland. 

In order to present the Answer succinctly he, Van Tienhoven, will allege not only how illy it 
becomes the said Van der Donck and other private inhabitants to challenge and abuse, in such 
harsh and general terms, the administration both of the Directors in this country and of their 
officers yonder; and that they would have performed their duty much better, had they first 
submitted to their Lords and Patroons whatever Observations they might intend to offer. 

But passing this by, and leaving the consideration thereof to your High Mightinesses' 
discretion, it must be remarked preliminarily and generally, that those persons make a great 
many assertions and prove nothing, so that what they shamefully state, can be as easily denied 
and with greater truth. Coming then to the point, we shall only notice those parts wherein 
either the Board (at Amsterdam) or the Director is accused ; and we say to the 1st Point: 

Jt is denied, and will never be proved that the Company hath refused our nation land for 
purposes of cultivation, and willingly allowed foreigners to occupy it. 

The Company's order to act on the defensive was better and more prudent than to have 
recourse to hostilities, inasmuch as it had not the force to resist its hypocritical friends, and 
could protect its rights only by protest. 

Trade has long since been opened to every one and is as profitable as ever; no property has 
been confiscated except of those who violated their contract or the order whereunto they were 
bound ; and if any one thinks he has been wronged by confiscation, he can come and speak for 
himself. At all events, 'tis not these people's business. 

They complain that Christians have been treated like Indians; to wit, in the sale of goods. 
But, observe, that such was not the act of the Company nor of its Director, because they — 
God help them — have not, and for several years have not had, anything there to sell. 

The fault lies at the door of the majority of those Remonstrants who are merchants or 
factors, and who charge there for what costs fl. 100 in this country, one, two hundred per cent, 
and more advance over and above first cost, assurance, duty, laborers' wages, freight &c, all 
which are added to the first cost. 'Tis evident these people accuse the Board of Directors and its 
officers of the very fault they themselves commit, and never will they prove that the Company 
had sold goods, during the time, it kept its store and magazines stocked there, at an advance of 
more than fifty per cent, agreeably to the Exemptions. The Director there cannot prevent 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: V. 423 

this one and that forestalling and seeking his own profit, particularly as the trade is thrown 

open to the little as well as to the big. 

. 'Tis a pure calumny that the Company ordered half a fault to be accounted a whole one. 1 

What instruction or order the I'atroon gives his Director is no affair of the Colonist : forsooth 
'tis for the purpose of inventing prosecutions. These people then would fain live subject to 
no person's censure or discipline, which, however, they doubly require. 

The instance wherein the Director exercised and usurped Sovereign power, must be specified 
and proved. It, too, is in general terms. 

That the Colonists had need of the Directors is evident from the account books which will 
show that the Company supplied all freemen, some few excepted, with clothing, provisions and 
other articles for the construction of houses, at an advance of 50 per cent, on the just cost in 
Fatherland; which supplies have not yet been paid for; and people by their complaints would 
fain filch the country from the Company, and pay nothing. 

'Tis ridiculous to accuse Director Kieft of saying that he was Sovereign like the I'rince in 
Fatherland. But in regard to the refusal of appeal to Fatherland, it arose from the circumstance 
that the Island of the Manhatans was reserved, in the Exemptions, as the Capital of New 
Netherland, and that all the Colonies round about should bring their appeal to it, as the 
Supreme Court of that quarter. 

'Tis to be, moreover, borne in mind that the Patroon of the Colonie Renselaerwyck causes 
all his tenants to sign, that they will not appeal to the Manhatans, in direct contravention of 
the Exemptions, by which the Colonists are bound to render to the Director and Council 
at the Manhatans an annual Report both of the Colony and of the Administration of Justice. 

The Directors have never had any administration of, nor concerned themselves with 
ecclesiastical property ; 'tis also denied and cannot be proved, that any of the inhabitants of 
New Netherland have, either voluntarily nor when requested, contributed or given anything 
for the building of an Asylum for orphans, or for the aged. 'Tis true that the Church in the 
fort was built in Willem Kieft's time, and a subscription list was signed which amounted to 
fl. 1S00. The accounts of most of the subscribers were debited accordingly, but they have 
not yet paid the money. Meanwhile the Company disbursed the funds, so that it was not the 
Commonalty (some few excepted) but the Company that paid the workmen. If the people 
require institutions as above stated, they must contribute towards them as is the custom in 
this country; and were there Asylums for orphans and the aged there, revenues would be 
necessary, not only to keep the houses in repair, but to support the orphans and the 
aged people. 

The Remonstrants will, if any one can, be likely to prove that money, or real or personal 
property has been bestowed by will or donation, by any living person, for such or any other 
public works; but there is no instance of the kind in New Netherland; and the charge is 
uttered or written through passion. When the Church, which is in the fort, was proposed to 
be built, the Church wardens were content; but it is these people who make a to-do, because 
they consider the Company's fort not worthy the honor of a Church. Before the Church was 
erected, the grist-mill could not work with a southeast wind, because the wind from that 
quarter was shut off by the walls of the fort. 

Although the new School-house, towards which the Commonalty contributed something, has 
not been yet built, it is not the Director, but the Church wardens, who have charge of the 

1 llet is eeu puyre culomnie Jat <le compaguie geordonaeert beeft, halve faute * • heele te refcenen. 



424 NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

funds. The Director is busy providing materials. Meanwhile a place has been selected for 
a School, of which Jan Cornelissen has charge. The other teachers keep school in hired 
houses, so that the youth are not in want of schools to the extent of the circumstances of the 
country. 'Tis true there is no Latin school nor academy; if the Commonalty require such, 
they can apply for it and furnish the necessary funds. 

As regards the deacons' or Poor-fund, the deacons are accountable for that, and are the 
persons of whom inquiry should be made as to where the money is invested which they have, 
from time to time, placed at interest; and as the Director never had charge of it, such not 
being usual, the deacons, and not the Director, are responsible for it. 'Tis, indeed, true that 
Director Kieft, being at a loss for money, had a box suspended in his house ; of that box the 
deacons had one key, and all the small fines and penalties which were levied on court days, 
were deposited in it. He opened it with the knowledge of the deacons, and took on interest 
the money, which amounted to a handsome sum. 

'Tis admitted that the Excise on beer was imposed by Willem Kieft, and that on wine by 
Petrus Stuyvesant; and that such excise was collected up to the date of my departure. But 
'tis to be observed here, that the Remonstrants have no cause to complain on that score, for 
the trader, burgher, farmer and all others except the vintners, lay in as much wine and beer 
as they please, free of excise. They are merely obliged to enter it, so that the quantity may 
be ascertained. The vintners pay three guilders per tun on beer, and one stiver per can on 
wine; they receive this back from those who daily resort to their houses, and from the 
traveler from New England, Virginia and elsewhere. 

No other internal taxes have been imposed, up to the present time, on the Commonalty, 
except the excise already mentioned, unless the voluntary offering which was applied two years 
ago to the erection of the church, be accounted a tax, of which Jacob Couwenhoven, also one 
of the Church Wardens, will have to render an account. 

In New England there is no impost or duty on imports or exports, but every one is assessed 
by the local government according to his means, and must pay to^the extent of his property 
and as the magistrates tax him, for 

Building and repairing of Churches ; 

Support of Ministers ; 

Erection of Schools and Salary of Teachers ; 

All city and town improvements ; 

Construction and repair of all highways and roads, many miles of which are made in that 
country, so that horses and wagons can be used and journeys made from one place to the other ; 

Construction and repair of all bridges across rivers on the highways; 

Erection of public houses for travelers ; 

Salaries of Governors, Magistrates, Marshals and constables ; and 

Pay of Majors, Captains and other officers of the Militia. 

A general Court is held quarterly in each of the New England Colonies, consisting of all the 
magistrates within such province, and there is, annually, a general assembly of all the provinces, 
from each of which a Deputy attends with his suite; this meeting continues a long time. All 
expenses, allowances and wages are also proportioned there among the people. The support 
of the poor is not included. 

The accounts ought to show the amount of duties received annually in Kieft's time, but it 
will not appear as much, by far, as they say. 'Tis not the Company's nor the Director's fault 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: V. 425 

that the Commonalty have to pay so much, but that of the traders, who charge 1. 2 and 
3 hundred advance ; and the people must submit, because there are few merchants. 

It can, neither now nor hereafter, be shown that 30,000 guilders a year have been collected 
from the Commonalty in Stuyvesant's time; for nothing was received but the beer and wine 
excise, which, at the Manhatans, yields about 4000 guilders a year; little or nothing is received 
from the other neighboring towns, because they have no taverns, except one at the Ferry and 
one at Flushing. 

If any confiscations have taken place, they have not been of property belonging to colonists, 
but of imported contraband goods, and no person's property has been confiscated without 
sufficient cause. 

The question is, are the Company or the Directors obliged to have constructed any buildings 
for the people out of the duties paid by the trader in New Netherland on exported goods, 
particularly as their High Mightinesses granted those duties to the Company to facilitate 
garrisons, and the payment of the expenses attendant thereupon, and not for building Hospitals 
and Orphan asylums, Churches and School-houses for the people. 

It cannot be substantiated that the Company's property has been squandered for the purpose 
of securing friends. 

The provisions received in exchange for the Tamandare Negroes, were sent to Curasao, 
except a portion consumed at the Manhatans, as the accounts will show. But all these are 
matters which do not concern these people, especially as they are not responsible for them. 

In regard to the letters of manumission which the Director was so good as to grant to the 
Negroes who had been the Company's slaves : They were set free in return for their long 
service, on condition that the children remain slaves ; these are treated the same as Christians; 
at present there are no more than three of these children in service ; one at the House of the 
Hope ; one at the Company's bouwerie, and one with Martin Crigier, who, as everybody 
knows, brought up the girl. 

'Twas Mr. Stuyvesant's duty to construct, caulk and repair the Company's property. He 
will answer for the profit or loss the Company has in consequence incurred. 

The burghers on the Island of Manhatans and thereabouts ought to know, that no one comes 
or is admitted into New Netherland (it being a conquest), except on this condition — not that 
he shall have anything to say, but — that he shall acknowledge the sovereignty of their High 
Mightinesses the States General, the Directors as his Lords and Patroons, and obey the 
Director and Council for the time being, as a good subject is bound to do. 

Those who complain of Stuyvesant's haughtiness are, such I think, as wish to live without 
government or order. 

The complaint that no regulation has been made concerning wampum, is unfounded. In 
Director Kieft's time, good Wampum passed for four, and loose beads at six, for a stiver. The 
reason for not prohibiting unstringed wampum was, because no money was in circulation, and 
mechanics, farmers and the rest of the Commonalty, having no other currency, would suffer 
serious loss; and had it been cried down, doubtless the Remonstrants would have booked the 
circumstance among the rest of their grievances. 

No one will prove that Directoror Stuyvesant hath berated as rascals, or made use of foul 
language to, any persons of respectability, who treated him courteously. If the Director hath 
made use of any harsh language, it must be that some profligate hath provoked him to it. 

Vol. I. 54 



426 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

The Fort not being properly repaired, is no concern of the colonists; 'tis not their domain, 
but the Company's. They would fain be protected by good forts and garrisons belonging to 
the Company, without affording any aid, assistance in labor or money for those ohjects. But it 
seems they do not wish to see a fort properly fortified and duly garrisoned, from the 
apprehension that the ill-disposed and seditious might be the more effectually punished ; this 
they call, cruelty. 

The fort had, doubtless, been already completed, had the Director not been obliged to supply 
the garrison of New Netherland and Curacao with provisions, clothing, and money. 

With whom had Director Stuyvesant an unprovoked and unjustifiable personal quarrel? 

They call a present of Maize or Indian corn, a contribution; a present has never been received 
from the Indians without double as much being given in return; for these people being very 
covetous, throw a herring in order to catch a cod; as every one acquainted with the Indians 
can testify. 

Francis Douthay, Adriaen van der Donck's father-in-law and an English Minister, was 
granted a colonie at Mespacht, not for himself alone as Patroon, but for him and his associates 
whose Agent he was, and who at the time were residing at Rhode Island and at Cahanock 
and other places. Mr. Smith was one of the leaders of these people, for said Minister had 
scarcely any means of himself to build a hut, let alone to plant a colonie at his own expense. 
He was merely to be employed as a clergyman by his associates who were to prepare a 
bouwerie for him in that Colonie, in return for which he should discharge the duty of preacher 
among them, and live on the proceeds of the bouwerie. 

Coming to live at the Manhatans during the war, he was permitted to officiate as Minister 
for the English in and around that place, who were bound to maintain him without either 
the Director or Company being liable to any charge therefor. And as the English did not 
afford him a sufficient support, two collections were taken up among the Dutch and English, 
on which he lived at the Manhatans. 

The Mespacht Colonie was never confiscated ; that is proved by the actual residence on it of 
the owners, who had an interest in it as well as Douthey ; but as the latter wished to obstruct 
its settlement and to permit no one to build in the colonie unless on paying him a certain sum 
down for each morgen of land, and a yearly sum in addition in the nature of ground rent, and 
endeavored thus to convert it into a domain, against which those interested in the Colonie, 
especially Mr. Smith complained, the Director and Council finally concluded that the 
copartners should enter on their property, and the bouwerie and lands in the possession of 
Douthay be reserved to him, so that he hath suffered no injury or loss thereby. This I could 
prove, were it not that the documents are in New Netherland and not here. 

I have treated already of the appeal. No clauses conflicting with the Exemptions are 
inserted in the patents ; but the phrase — " noch te beramcn" [hereafter to be imposed] — can 
be omitted from them, if found objectionable. 

Stuyvesant hath never pleaded any causes in court, but spoke and proposed questions to 
parties, as president, and, with advice of the Council, administered justice whereof the 
malevolent complain ; but that Stuyvesant withheld justice from any one remains to be proved. 

As to what appertains to the Deputy director, Dinclagen, let him plead his own case. 

It can be established that Brian Nuton not only understands, but speaks the Dutch language, 
so that their accusation, that Nuton does not understand Dutch, is a falsehood. All the other 
slanders and calumnies uttered against the rest of the officers, ought to be proved. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: V. 427 

'Tis true that it was said in New Netherland, in the course of conversation, that no appeal 
lay from a New Netherland judgment, pronounced on the Island Manhatans ; this was founded 
on the Exemptions where that Island is established as the Supreme Court of all the circumjacent 
Colonies, and on the fact that no precedent existed of their High Mightinesses' having ever 
received those in appeal who, coming from New Netherland, had applied for that purpose 
here — viz 1 . Hendrick Jansen the tailor, Laurens Cornelissen and several others, who were 
banished many years ago from New Netherland. 'Twould be a very strange thing if the 
officers of the country could not banish anybody from it, whilst the authorities of the Colonie 
Renselaers wyck, who are subordinate to the Company, absolutely banish whomsoever they 
please and the welfare of the Colonie requires to be excluded ; And they do not allow any 
person to reside there except at their pleasure and upon certain conditions, some of which I 
submit here — First, No person up to the present time in the Colonie possesses a foot of land 
of his own, but is obliged to take all the land he cultivates upon a rent-lease; where a 
dwelling-house is built, he is obliged to pay some beavers annually as ground rent, which 
all the farmers likewise are required to pay ; in return they are allowed free trade, as 'tis 
called. Where is there one inhabitant under the Company's jurisdiction charged or taxed in 
any way for either trade or lots',? All lands are conveyed in fee subject to this clause — 
beraemt ofte noch (e beramcn. [Taxes imposed or to be hereafter imposed.] 

Francis Douthey, the English minister, hath never been employed by the Company, 
wherefore it owes him nothing; but his English congregation is bound to pay him, as can be 
proved in New Netherland. The Company has advanced to the said minister from time to 
time, in goods and necessaries, to the amount of about fl.1100., as the colonial account books 
might show ; this he has not yet paid, and he complains because he is unwilling to pay. I 
know not whether the Director hath required a promise from Douthey. 

Director Stuyvesant, on his arrival in New Netherland, endeavored, pursuant to his orders, 
quietly to put a stop to the contraband trade in guns, powder and lead. On perceiving which, 
the Colonie Renselaers wyck itself, sent a letter and petition to the Director, wherein they 
requested moderation the rather, they said, if the trade be wholly abolished, all the Christians 
in the colonie would run great danger of being murdered — as by the tenor of said petition 
may more fully be seen. The Director and Council, taking the petition into consideration, 
and reflecting further on the consequences, resolved to barter sparingly a few guns and a little 
powder through the Commissary at Fort Orange on the Company's account ; taking good care, 
moreover, that the sloops navigating the river should not convey any quantity up. This was 
provisionally only, and until further order. 'Tis to be observed in this place, that the Director 
dreading one of two evils, permitted some arms to be bartered in the Fort in order to preserve 
the Colonie from danger. Neither will any one prove that the Director hath sold, or allowed the 
sale of, any articles of contraband on his own private account. The seizure of some guns by 
leave of the Director, happened because they were not accompanied by any permit, as ordered 
by the Company. Under such guise many guns could be introduced. The Director 
ordered sixteen guilders to be paid for each gun that was seized, although it could not have 
cost more than 8 (al 9 in this country. 

'Tis true that Vastrick brought over, by Director Stuyyesant's order, a case containing 30 
guns, which the Director, with the knowledge of the Deputy and Fiscal, permitted to be landed 
in open day. These guns were transferred to Commissary Keyser with instructions to sell 
them to the Dutch who were unprovided with arms, so that they might, in the hour of need, 



428 NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

have wherewith to defend themselves. If there were any more guns in the ship, 'twas 
without the Director's knowledge. The Fiscal whose business it was, should have seen to it, 
and inspect the vessel ; and these accusers are bound to prove connivance and neglect of 
proper inspection. 

Jacob Reynsen and Jacob Schermerhoorn are petty traders, natives of Waterland ; one of 
them — Jacob Schermerhoorn — resided at Fort Orange and Jacob Reynties at Fort Amsterdam ; 
the latter purchased powder, lead, guns and salt and sent them up to Schermerhoorn who 
disposed of them to the Indians. So it happened that Goert Barent, the Company's corporal 
who had charge of whatever of the Company's arms required to be repaired or cleaned, sold 
guns, locks, barrels, &c, to Jacob Reynties aforesaid ; as can be proved by his own confession 
contained in letters written to his partner long ere this transaction came to light, and by the 
information of the corporal. Seduced by Jacob Reynties' solicitation, the corporal sold him 
arms as often as he applied for them, though the former was well aware that the guns and 
barrels were the property of the Company and not of the corporal. A parcel of peltries was 
therefore confiscated, as may be seen in the accounts ; most of those furs having, as 
appears from the letters, been purchased with contraband goods. And as Jacob Reyntjes has 
been back in this country since the confiscation, he would have readily complained had he not 
felt guilty, especially as he had been sufficiently urged to do so by the enemies of the Company 
and of the Director ; but his own letters can be produced in evidence against him. 

Joost de Backer, being accused by the aforesaid Corporal of having also purchased locks 
and barrels of him, and the first information being found correct, legal search was made in 
Joost's house, where a gun belonging to the Company was found, which he had obtained from 
the Corporal ; he was, therefore, placed in confinement until he gave security for the 
Fiscal's suit. 

As the English of New England harbored and employed all fugitives, whether persons in 
, the Company's service or freemen, who fled to them from the Manhatans without a pass, 
which is required by the custom of the country, Commissioners endeavored to induce the 
English to restore the fugitives according to a previous agreement entered into with Governors 
Eton 1 and Hopkins. 2 But as the former declined to surrender the runaways to us, although 
earnestly solicited so to do, the Director and Council, pursuant to a previous resolution, issued 
a proclamation, by way of retaliation, to the effect that all persons who should come to New 
Netherland from the province of New Haven (all other places being excepted), should be 
protected ; and as the Governor delivered up to us some fugitives, the Director and Council 
revoked the proclamation, and since then matters have gone on peaceably, the dispute about 
the boundaries remaining in statu quo. 

No person's property is confiscated in New Netherland without just cause, and if any one 
feel aggrieved on this point, the Director will be ready to answer. 'Tis probable the ships 

1 Tiieophilus Eaton, first Governor of New Haven Colony, was born at Stony Stratford, in Oxfordshire, his father being 
the minister of that place. He was bred a merchant and was for several years agent for the King of England at the court 
of Denmark; and after his return prosecuted his business in London with high reputation. He accompanied Mr. Davenport 
to New England in 1637, and soon after his arrival was chosen one of the magistrates of Massachusetts. He was one of the 
founders of New Haven in 1638, and was annually elected Governor till his death, Jan. 7, 1657, aged 66. Allen. 

* Edwakd Hopkins, Governor of Connecticut, 'and a benefactor of Harvard College, was an eminent merchant in London, 
and arrived at Boston in the summer of 1637 and soon removed to Connecticut. He was chosen a magistrate in 1639, and 
Governor of Connecticut every other year from 1G40 to 1654. He afterwards went to England, where he was chosen warden 
of the English fleet, commissioner of the Admiralty and a member of Parliament. He died in London in March, 1657, 
aged 67. Allen. — Ed. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS : V. 429 

or the skippers are afraid of confiscation, and therefore do not resort to New Netherland, for 
nobody can resort there without a permit. Whoever is provided with that, and does not 
violate his contract and has duly entered his goods, need not be afraid of confiscations ; but 
all smugglers and persons sailing under double commissions may well dread them. 

All those who were indebted to the Company were notified to pay up the debts left 
uncollected by the late Willem Kieft, and as some could, and others could not pay, no one 
was constrained to liquidate their account ; but this debt, amounting to about fl.30,000, 
rendered many who were disinclined to pay, insolent and illdisposed, especially as the 
Company had, now, nothing to sell in that country on credit, and it appeared that some 
endeavored to pay, Brazil fashion. The petitioners requested that the Commonalty should 
not be oppressed. This has never been done ; but they would gladly see the Company 
duuning or suing nobody, and yet paying its creditors. The Company's books will show 
that the debts were not contracted during, but long before the war. Those who were poor 
and burdened with wives and children, have been assisted by the Company with clothing, 
houses, cattle and land, &c, which were, from time to time, carried to account against them, 
in the hope that payment would be made sometime or other. 

If the New England taxes, already mentioned, be compared with those of New Netherland, 
'twill be found that the people of the former country are more heavily taxed than ours. The 
taxes in New Netherland are : 

An excise on wine of one stiver per can, first imposed in the year 1647. 

An excise on beer of three guilders per tun, laid on by Kieft in the year 1644, 

Which excise is paid by the Tapster and not by the Burgher. 

A duty of eight per cent on exported beavers, which falls, not on the colonist, but on the 
merchant, who is bound to pay it, according to contract. 

The Director always manifested a desire, and was pleased to see a delegation, from the 
Commonalty, which should seek in Fatherland from the Company, as Patroous, and the Lords 
States, as Sovereigns, the following, viz': 

Population ; settlement of boundaries ; reduction of the duties on New Netherland tobacco, 
&c. ; facilities for emigration ; permanent and solid privileges, &c. 

He always offered to assist in the promotion of these objects, but the Remonstrants had 
recourse to underhand ways ; they excited some of the Commonalty, from whom they obtained 
clandestine and secret certificates, and aimed at nothing less as their Remonstrance proves, than 
to render the Company, their Patroons, and the officers in New Netherland, (except such as are 
devoted to them,) odious before their High Mightinesses, so as by that means to deprive the 
Company of the Jus Patronatus, and inflict on it further injury. 

The Remonstrants assert that we had courted the English in order through them to distract 
the Board, as they call it. This statement is untrue, as appears by the propositions submitted 
to them. 'Tis worthy of remark here, however, that the English residing under the protection 
of the Dutch, have taken an oath of fidelity, and are domiciliated and settled in New 
Netherland ; they are therefore to be accounted fellow citizens of the country, which these 
persons have always opposed, because the English would, as well as they, have had some 
voice in the delegation, and would not subscribe to all the calumnies and slanders, but aimed 
solely at the good of the country and of its inhabitants. No postil was ever affixed to the 
petition, authorizing them to go and speak privately to the Commonalty. The intention of 
the Director was, to have the people convoked at his own time and when the proper season 



430 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

arrived, when they might be addressed publicly on the subject of the delegation. The 
Director was not obliged, as alleged, to have the people called together immediately ; he must 
be the judge of the time, and when every one could leave home conveniently, and without 
serious loss, especially as some lived far in the interior, etc. 

The unwillingness of the Remonstrants to communicate, arose from the circumstance, that 
all whom they now paint in such ugly colors, could have provided themselves with means of 
defence, and have the contrary proved, and in that case would be able to produce something 
even from some of those very persons. And as the Director and those belonging to the 
government in New Netherland are sorely wronged and defamed, I request time, in order to 
await, if necessary, documents to the contrary from New Netherland. 

Verdonck and his colleagues say, that the Director had instituted personal actions against 
some. The Director arriving at the house of one Michiel Jansen, a co-signer of the 
Remonstrance, was notified by said Michiel and by Thomas Hall, saying: — " A scandalous 
Journal of Adriaen van der Donck is within there." The Director took this Journal away with 
him, and on account of the calumnies and aspersions it contained, as well against their High 
Mightinesses as against individuals, Van der Donck was confined to his lodgings, and required 
to prove what he had written ; he was released, however, on the intercession and at the 
request of others. 

The publication and posting of a notice in Kieft's and Stuyvesant's administrations, to 
the effect that no declaration or other public writing should have any legal force in New 
Netherland, except written by the Secretary, did not proceed from any design to prevent the 
preparation of evidence, but from this consideration: — Those living in New Netherland are, for 
the most part, country people and seafaring men, who summon each other frequently before 
the court for mere trifles; many of them cannot read or write, and several produce no 
intelligible papers or evidence; and if anything were brought forward, 'twas written sometimes 
by a sailor or farmer, oftentimes wholly indistinct, and entirely repugnant to the meaning or 
declaration of the person who had caused it to be written. The consequence was, the Director 
and Council could not learn the facts of the case properly, and in accordance with justice, &c 

No persons have been arrested, during Stuyvesant's administration, but Verdonck for 
writing the Journal and Augustyn Heermans, Gabri's clerk, for having refused to produce 
the writings which were drawn up for circulation among the Nine men. This was told to the 
Director, who had been repeatedly for them, like a little boy. 

On the 1st point of the Redress, as they term it, these Remonstrants advise that the 
Company ought to abandon the country, and decamp. Can there be a more frivolous 
suggestion? 

The Company conveyed thither, at its own expense, cattle and a number of people; built 
a fortress, succored many persons who, on arriving from Holland, were poor and in distress, 
and furnished them with clothing and provisions, and now that some of them possess a little 
more than they can consume in a day, they would fain be released from the authority of their 
benefactors; and, if possible, even without paying — a sign of gross ingratitude. 

The country has been, up to the present time, nothing but a source of expense to the 
Company, and now when 'tis in a position to provide henceforward for itself, and there is 
some hope' that 'twill be a source of profit to the Company hereafter, these people are 
unwilling to pay the tenths they honestly owe at the end of ten years, according to the 
Exemptions which they invoke. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS : V. 431 

On the 2nd point they say: that provision ought to be made for ecclesiastical and municipal 
property, divine service, and for an asylum for orphans and aged people. If they are such 
patriots as they appear to be, let them be leaders in generous contributions for such laudable 
objects, and not complain when the Directors requested a collection towards the erection of 
a Church and school. What complaints would there be, were the Director to demand a 
collection for an asylum for aged people and orphans. Divine service will not be interrupted, 
by the absence of D e Johannes Backerus, who, however, has been there only 27 months. 
The place is again supplied with a learned and godly clergyman, who requires no interpreter 
when defending the Reformed Religion against any minister of our neighbors, the 
English Brownists. 

The preceding are, in fact, the points requiring any answer. We shall add thereunto 
only some particulars respecting the persons who have signed the Remonstrance. They are 
as follow : 

Adriaen van dee Donck has been about 8 years in New Netherland ; he originally 
went thither as sheriff, in the employ of the co-proprietors in the Colonie of Renselaers wyck, 
but did not long hold that office; he resided in the Colonie, however, until the year 1646. 

Arnoldus van Hardenberch accompanied Hay Jansen, in 1644, to New Netherland, with 
a cargo for his brother, where he never suffered any let or damage, to our knowledge ; but 
he knows how to charge the colonists well for his wares. 

Augustyn Heermans went out in the Maecht van Enchuysen, being, as he now is, clerk to 
Gabri, in the trading business. 

Jacob van Couwenhoven having, when a lad, accompanied his father to that country, was 
taken by Wouter van Twiller into the Company's service as an assistant, and becoming 
afterwards a tobacco planter, the Company helped him, as is to be seen by the books, with 
necessaries; but they have been paid for. 

Olof Stevensen, brother-in-law of Govert Loockermans, went out in the year 1637, in the 
ship the Having, as a soldier in the Company's service; was promoted by Director Kieft and 
finally appointed Commissary of the store; he has profited by the Company's service and is 
endeavoring to give his benefactor the pay of the world ; that is, evil for good. He has 
signed under protest, saying he was obliged to sign, which can be understood two ways; 
either that he felt obliged to subscribe to the truth, or that he was constrained thereunto. 
If he intends the latter, he must prove it. 

Michiel Jansen went out in the capacity of farm-servant in the employ of the partners of 
the Colonie of Renselaers wyck, in New Netherland. He made his fortune in a few years 
in the Colonie, but not being able to agree with the authorities there, finally removed to the 
Island Manhatans in the year 1646. He was to have come hither, but accounts not being 
settled between him and the Colonie, as he has a claim which the partners do not admit, 
Jan Evertsen came over in his stead. 

Thomas Hall came to the South river in 1635, in the service of an Englishman named 
Mr. Horns, who intended at the time to rob us of the South river of New Netherland, 
including fort Nassouw, and ran away from his master there; arriving at the Manhatans, he 
hired himself as farm-servant to Jacob van Curler. Becoming a freeman, he made a tobacco 
plantation on Wouter van Twiller's land ; he has also been overseer (bouwmeestcr). Twiller 
knows the man. Thomas Hall resides, at present, on a little bouwerie belonging to the 
Company. 



432 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Elbert Elbertzen, arriving in the country as a farm lad, was about 10 or eleven years in 
Wouter van Twiller's service, and has never had any land of his own. About three years 
ago he married the widow of Gerrit Wolphertsen (brother of the abovementioned Jacob van 
Couwenhoven), and is, therefore, up to the present time, in the Company's debt, from the 
payment of which he would apparently like to be relieved. 

Govert Loockermans, brother-in-law of Jacob van Couwenhoven, went to New Netherland 
in 1G33, as cook's mate in the yacht St. Martyn; was taken by Wouter van Twiller into the 
Company's service ; having realized some profit in it, he became a freeman, and finally took 
charge of the trade of Gillis Verbruggen and company, in New Netherland. This Loockmans 
ought to show his gratitude to the Company, under God, for his prosperity, and not plot to 
deprive it of the country. 

Hendrick Kip is a tailor, and has never suffered any injury in New Netherland to 
our knowledge. 

Jan Evertsen Bout, formerly in the Company's service, went over the last time in 
the year 1634, in the ship the Eendracht, in the employment of Hon ble Michiel Pauw ; 
resided at Pavonia until the year 1643, and prospered somewhat; and as the Hon ble Company 
purchased Mr. Pauw's property, the said Jan Evertsen got on right well in its service, 
it having acquired M r Pauw's interest. And as his house and barn, at Pavonia, were burnt 
in the war, which he seems to make a pretext for his complaint, 'tis proper to observe 
here, that the Hon ble Company having paid fl.26,000 for Mr. Pauw's Colonie, made a free gift 
to the said Jan Evertsen, long after the house was burnt, of the land whereon his house stood 
and of the bouwerie, which produced good wheat. Michel Jansen purchased that farm and a 
poor, unfinished house, with some few cattle, for fl.8000. 

In fine, these people, glozing over their acts, say they are bound by oath and obliged by 
conscience; but, had this any force, they would not thus assail the Company and others, their 
benefactors, nor seek to strip them of this noble country by advising a conveyance of it, now 
that it begins to assume some shape; promises to make the Company some return, and when 
many of the colonists find themselves in better circumstances than ever. Ambition, apparently, 
prompts many, &c. 

Ady 29. November, 1650. The Hague. 



Extract of Observations on the West India Company's Affairs. 

[ From the MS. in the Royal Archives at the Hague ; Loketkas of the States General ; Rubric West IndiscTm Compagnie^ No. 80 ; Brazilian part 

of the Bundle, f-j.] 

The Committee of the principal Partners of the West India Company at 
Amsterdam, having heard the report of the business at the Hague, have 
resolved to communicate their opinion thereupon as follows: — 

5. As regards New Netherland, they are of opinion that the trade ought to be encouraged 
with the same freedoms, and the charges thereon ought to be on the same footing, as in New 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: V. 433 

England ; and that all possible means ought to be taken to place the fisheries on the Coast on 
an equality with those of Newfoundland, with liberty to transport the fish either to Brazil or 
elsewhere, according to the pleasure of the owners. 

[Without any year, but found with papers of the year 1G50. ] 



Resolution of the States General on a Petition of Adriaen van der Donck. 

[ From the Register of West India Affairs, 1638 — 1651, io the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Saturday, 14 th January, 1651. 
Foiio 62T. Read to the Assembly the Petition of Adriaen van der Donck, delegated by the 

Netheriand^"* People of New Netherland, again praying that a speedy and necessary redress 
Eedre9S - may be concluded on in regard to the affairs of New Netherland. Whereupon 

deliberation being had, it is resolved and concluded that the aforesaid Petition be placed in the 
hands of Messrs. Aertsbergen and the other their High Mightinesses' deputies for the West 
India affairs, in order to examine the same and to make use of its information and advice. 



Resolution of the States General on the Records of the India Companies. 

[From the Register of West India Affairs, 1633 — 1651, in the Royal Archives at the Hague.] 

Saturday, 14 th January, 1651. 
Foiio627. On motion of Secretary Ruysch, it* is, on deliberation, resolved and concluded 

Motion of secretary that their High Mightinesses' Resolutions respecting the East and West India 
Resolution of the Companies be continued to be kept in separate Registers pursuant to their High 

East 8D<i West In- . . _ . . . ., - rt ~ 

dia companies. Mightinesses resolution oi the 16'° April, 1638. 



<'IH'> 



Order to Secretary van Tienhoven to answer Interrogatories. 

[ From the Minutes In the Royal Archives at the Hague ; File, West Indie. ] 

The Deputies of the High and Mighty Lords States General of the United Netherlands, for 
the affairs of the West India Company, hereby order Mr. Harman van Zuylen van Nyvelt 
to serve Secretary Cornelis van Thienhoven with a duplicate of certain points and articles 
touching the origin of the war in New Netherland, submitted and exhibited to their High 
Mightinesses on 21st July, 1650, and the aforesaid Thienhoven shall be obliged, pursuant to 
Vol. I. 55 



434 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

their High Mightinesses' resolution of the 9 ,h August, of said year, to answer and enter his 
reply thereunto, within the space of eight days after the receipt and service hereof; and 
meanwhile to remain here at the Hague, without leaving. 
Done at the Hague aforesaid, 7 February, 16-51. 

By order of the aforesaid Lords, their High Mightinesses' Deputies. 



Resolution of the States General summoning Secretary van Tienhoven and Jan C. 

Damen before them. 

[From the Register of West India Affairs, 163S — 1651, in the Royal Archives at the Hague.] 

Tuesday, 14 lb March, 1651. 

Folio 657. On the report of Mess" Van Aertsbergen and the other their High Mightinesses' 

NcriR'r"nu? m New Deputies for West India affairs, it is, after previous deliberation, resolved and 

concluded, that the Chamber of the West India Company residing in Amsterdam shall be 

Thiennoven. written to, to direct Jan Claes" Damen and Cornelus van Tienoven, Secretary 

Da men. 

in New Netherland, to come hither by the first opportunity, and to appear before 
the abovenamed Mess" Aertsbergen and the other their High Mightinesses' Deputies, and not 
to depart for New Netherland before and until they will have been here. And said Tienoven, 
on coming here, shall be summoned and notified promptly to answer before the said 
Deputies the interrogatories heretofore communicated to him. And this their High 
Mightinesses' resolution, as well as the letters consequent thereon, shall be dispatched and 
sent off without reconsideration. 



1~ 



States General to the Chamber of the West India Company at Amsterdam. 

[ From the Register of Vitgegane Brieven of the States General, in the Royal ArchiveB at the Hague. ] 

The States, etc. 

Foiio as. Honorable, &c. We have this day heard and considered the Report of Mess" 

van Aertsbergen and other our Deputies for West India affairs, and have accordingly, after 
previous deliberation, resolved to request and require you hereby, to direct Jan Claesz 

Damen Damen and Cornelis van Thienhoven, Secretary of New Netherland, to come 

aod 

Thienhoven. hither by the first opportunity to appear before the said Mess" van Aertsbergen 
and the other our Deputies, and not depart for New Netherland before and until they shall 
have been here, whereon relying. Done 14 March, 1651. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS : V. 435 

Hesolutioii of the States General rf erring a Letter of the Amsterdam Chamber. 

[ From llio Register of West India Affairs, 103S — 1651, in the Royal Archives at tho Hague. ] 

Tuesday, 21 March 1G51. 
Foiio 660. Received a letter from the Directors of the Incorporated West India Company 



Chamber at Amsler- 



Damen and 



at the Chamber at Amsterdam dated 2S lh instant, being an answer to their High 
Mightinesses' letter of the 14 <h of this month, to the effect that Jan Jans 5 Damen 

Tienhoven. 

has returned to New Netberland, and that Secretary Cornelis van Tienhoven is 
on his way hither, and that they are not aware but he will afford their High 
'. n rMing at New Neth- Mightinesses information on all points. Whereupon deliberation being had, it is 
erlnnd ' resolved and concluded that the aforesaid letter shall be placed in the hands of 

Mess" Aersbergen and the other their High Mightinesses Deputies for West India affairs to 
inspect and examine it and report thereon. 



Resolution of the States General forbidding Secretary van Tienhoven to depart. 

[ From the Register of Resolutions of tho States General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Friday, 21st April 1651. 
FoMo S36. The petition of Martin Beeckman in the name and on the behalf of Mr. Harman 

Secretary Tien- . 

hoven. van Zuylen van JNyevelt, setting forth in substance that Secretary Cornells van 

Tienhoven did intend to leave for New Netberland, and praying that the same may be prevented, 
New Netheriand. being read to the Assembly; it is, upon deliberation resolved and concluded that 
the Chamber of the West India Company shall be again requested to detain the abovenamed 
Tienhoven and not allow him to depart; also that they write to the skipper of the ship 
Waterhont not to receive the aforesaid Tienhoven before and until he, Tienhoven, hath received 
and exhibited their High Mightinesses' consent for his departure. 



States General to the Chamber of the West India Company at Amsterdam. 

[From Register of tjitgegane Briecenot the States General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague.] 

The States, etc. 
Foiio us. Honorable, &c, Whereas we are certainly informed that Secretary Cornelis van 
Thienhoven is intending to proceed on an early day to New Netheriand, we have resolved to 
request and require you hereby again to detain said Thienhoven and not lo allow him to depart, 
and for that purpose you will write to the skipper of the Ship the Waterhont not to receive the 
abovenamed Thienhoven before aud until he hath received and exhibited our consent to his 
departure. Done 21 3t April 1651. 



436 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Petition of certain Dutch Merchants to the States General. 

[ From the Original in the Royal Archives at the Hague ; File, West Indie. ] 

To the Noble, High and Mighty, the Lords States General of the United Netherlands. 

The resident merchants of these United Netherlands respectfully and with reverence 
represent that they have traded for upwards of twenty years past, to all the Caribbean islands 
and to Virginia, by which commerce the aforesaid places have, from very feeble beginnings and 
appearances — yea, utter inability of themselves, — so improved from time to time, and been 
brought to such condition as to be at present a source of astonishment to the whole world. 
This trade has been prosecuted with considerable profit for the inhabitants of this Province, 
though not without great risk, because they must always invest and intrust a heavy capital to 
people of the aforesaid places, whom they have frequently assisted in their misfortune and 
great necessity, and brought, with food and raiment, out of extreme ruin. This trade was 
formerly prosecuted by all nations freely and unincumbered, and notwithstanding the 
inhabitants of the aforesaid places and islands, have, by means of our supplies and liberal 
credits, had the opportunity to improve and advance their Colonies to their incalculable 
advantage, and to such a flourishing state, yet an attempt is now being made, regardless of 
what we have contributed to their prosperity, to exclude us from the trade to said places, and 
those of the Parliament of England have issued a certain notice to that effect, prohibiting the 
trade to Islands where they or their nation have any Colonies, and particularly to the Virginias, 
on pain of the forfeiture of ship and goods, and of being treated as enemies. 'Tis indeed true 
that they have fixed some time in their proclamation, but it is so short that 'tis impossible to 
obey it, and utterly impracticable to get in from thence our ships, unsold goods and outstanding 
debts within the said time, we being allowed for that purpose, only from the 3 d October, 
1650, the day of publication, until the 20 th March, 1651; after which day, our ships found 
returning thence, or trading anywhere else, on or near those places, are declared good prizes. 
All the merchants interested in said trade, are, therefore, obliged to address themselves 
respectfully to you, High and Mighty, with due reverence, humbly praying your High 
Mightinesses to be pleased to take into serious consideration, this matter, which is of such 
importance and advantage to this state, so that they may not only be freed from the rigor of 
the aforesaid proclamation, but be also maintained and continued in the privilege of trading 
to the abovementioned islands and places ; and to be pleased to give extraordinary instructions 
for that purpose, and, if possible, at the earliest moment, to the Noble, High and Mighty Lords 
Commissioners, whom your High Mightinesses have appointed to treat with the Ambassadors 
from England, as we have been informed, for a certainty, that a considerable number of men 
of war lie in the harbor of Falmouth, prepared to enforce that proclamation, and 'tis reported 
that they have already sailed thither; so that your petitioners may be saved from loss, and not 
deprived of a trade so advantageous to all the inhabitants of this Province. For, independent 
of the profit accruing from ship-building and what is connected therewith, our cargoes, which 
are exported thither to the value yearly of several millions, consist, not of gold, silver, or any 
description of coin, but exclusively of all sorts of domestic manufactures, brewed beer, linen 
cloth, brandies, or other distilled liquors, duffels, coarse cloth, and other articles suitable for 
food and raiment for the people inhabiting those places, in return for which are imported all 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: V. 437 

sorts of eastern commodities, as from Virginia, beavers and other eastern furs, considerable 
tobacco, and from the Caribbean islands a large quantity of sugars, tobacco, indig'o, ginger, 
cotton, and divers sorts of valuable wood, affording extensive trade by the exportation of said 
wares to countries and places far and near ; contributing to the support of several thousand 
people, independent of the profit of common stock. 

(Signed) Jean Gabry, Goycken Elber, W ra Watson, Gilles Verbrugge and Son, 
Jean Schuyl, Egbert Dolm , Pieter Bert, Abraham van Susteren, 

Adam van Germez, Jaques de la Rue, Willem Reyerssen, Solomon van 
der Burch, Jan Jansen van Dinter, H. Colyn, Jan Claese Langedyck and 
ComP*', Willem Kalff, Hendrick Stocqman, Pieter de Lageur, Joan 
Kley, Isac Foucquier, D. Strycker, Geraert Smitos, P r Goethals, Jooris 
V . . . ., and C. Massa, Egbert Senit, Jeremia van Collen, Guilliaem 
Momma, Rombout Lefer, Gasparo van Collen, Joan van den Velde, 
Andries Pols, Jacques Thiery, D. Haen Jun r , A. Boelens, Joannes Faes, 
Jacob van Eschwiler, Watt Fuls, Jeronimo de Haze Jun r ., Balf 
Schouten, Egb' Cor 8 Schouten, Godefridt Wassenbergh, Guyl" 1 " 
Bartolott, Rouan Ben Isaack de Neufviele, Balthy Jan Coyman, Dierck 
van de Perre, Justus Baeck. 



Secret Resolution of the States General. 

[ From the Register of the Secret Resolutions of tho States General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Thursday, 23 November, 1651. 

roiio45. M r Veth, president of the Assembly, hath suggested to their High Mightinesses 

England. whether Mess" the Ambassadors Extraordinary, proceeding hence to England, 

ought not to be recommended by further and express resolution, to endeavor, by all possible 

Trade to the canb- means and appliances, that the inhabitants of this country may resort to, and trade 

bean Islands and 1 , TT ..., 

Virginia. with the Caribbean islands and places in Virginia, in the same manner as they 

have hitherto resorted and traded thither, irrespective of whether said islands or places were 
first or should be hereafter occupied or possessed by the inhabitants and subjects of the 
Parliament of the Republic of England, or of those United Netherlands, any prohibition made 
or published by the one party or the other, to the contrary notwithstanding. Whereupon, 
deliberation being had, it is resolved and concluded, hereby seriously to recommend to the 
said Ambassadors, in addition to the performance of the other articles of their instruction, 
the negotiation of the aforesaid 11 th article. 



438 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Memorial of Adriaen van der Donch. 

[ From the MS. in the Koyal Archives at the Hague ; Loketkas of the States General ; Division, West IndUelie Compagnie, No. 86. ] 

To the High and Mighty Lords States General of the United Netherland Provinces. 
The states aenerai Adriaen van der Donck, agent of the Commonalty of New Netherland, represents 

oflhe United Neth- , . , , . 

eriamts have, upon respectfull v, to vour High Mightinesses that on reiterated complaints, 

consideration, re- r J J o • i j i 

ded e 'to' 1 "r'efe ( r in t'ws" remonstrances and representations to your High Mightinesses in this regard, such 

capeuetho Kyss"', progress has been made that not only a written report has followed, but, with a 

High Mi|h°iine,ses' view to maintain better order in that country and in this matter, divers good and 

toinspect, examine wholesome resolutions have been adopted by you, High and Mighty, on the 1 st 

ami report thereon. i i • 

Done at the Aaaem- an( j ± ph April, 1650, and on 14 ,h March and 21" April, 1651, so that the entire 

bly of the High and ""** r ' ' * 

Gelerai^t r he S ioth Commonalty there, on seeing the written report and aforesaid orders which were 
flaraphed'f 2- communicated by the Delegates whom you, High and Mighty, permitted to go 
Byorde'rofthe'sarae. thither, entertained now very high hopes, and each and every of them promised 
N.kuirson. themselves the enjoyment of the good and long wished for fruits thereof, and to 
be able to thank your High Mightinesses for them. 

But with grief, regret and sorrowful eyes must they witness and behold that, to the country's 
ruin and their own exceeding great damage and derangement, Stuyvesant, Director in New 
Netherland, and a few French and English Councillors, appointed neither by your High 
Mightinesses nor by the Hon ble West India Company, but by him, the Director, according to 
his own pleasure, in opposition to the protest of the other officers known to, appointed by 
your High Mightinesses and the Hon ble West India Company and possessing jurisdiction with 
the Director in that country, have so ill-received your High Mightinesses' authority and orders 
that the said orders not only have been disregarded and passed over, but the direct contrary 
thereof has been put into practice without any member of the government being at liberty to 
make an objection thereunto, unless at the risk of being affronted by every means, direct and 
indirect, and banished, as your High Mightinesses will be fully able to perceive from the 
annexed protest and following examples. 

The Director was not willing to communicate to the other Councillors appointed by your 
High Mightinesses and the Hon ble Company, your High Mightinesses' general letters dated 
the 1st and ll tb April, and given to the Delegates on their departure, so that such refusal was 
protested against, as is to be seen by the document hereunto annexed. 

The guns which were sent over, are not stamped and distributed according to order, but the 
Director first took possession of all of them, sold some of them to the Indians or Natives of 
the country, and refused to leave the remainder at the disposal of Jacob van Couwenhoven 
thereunto qualified by your High Mightinesses' resolution dated 11 th April, 1650, so that the 
whole affair has got into confusion. 

The Commonalty are not only not disciplined nor armed, pursuant to your High 
Mightinesses' order, but when such was repeatedly demanded by the Select men pursuant to 
your High Mightinesses' issued commands, they were dismissed with hard words, by the 
Director who only answered — I shall do so when I please ; so that this matter has been treated 
with contempt up to the present time, contrary to your High Mightinesses' order. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS : VI. 439 

By said letter dated ll ,h April, 1650, your High Hightinesses also command that Vice 
Director Dincklngen and the Select men be continued until further order ; but this has not 
been obeyed, the direct contrary has been done, for in opposition to this your High 
Mightinesses' instruction ; in violation of their settled right of nomination signed by the 
Director himself, and contrary to all reason and equity, the Seject men were altogether 
suddenly and unexpectedly dismissed by Director Stuyvesant, and again received back 
according to his humor. 

Vice Director Lubbert van Dincklage has in the presence and before the eyes of 
Director Stuyvesant been forcibly removed by soldiers from the Court where he sat as joint 
Judge, and was for several days confined in the military guard-house, after which he was not 
suffered to go unmolested, but finally deposed without your High Mightinesses' knowledge, 
though appointed and qualified by your High Mightinesses, whilst foreigners, such as 
Englishmen and Frenchmen, neither nominated nor known by your High Mightinesses, are, 
on the contrary, employed and continued. 

Your High Mightinesses have, also, by resolution of the 14 March, 1651, commanded 
Secretary Cornelis van Tienhoven and Jan Claessen Damen not to depart for New Netherland 
before, nor until, they had furnished your Hon ble Committee with information on some 
important points respecting the war, and had obtained your High Mightinesses' consent; but 
Jan Claessen Damen went off immediately after the receipt of the notification, not regarding 
it in the least. 

And Secretary Tienhoven, who was accused and proved before your High Mightinesses, to 
have been the chief cause of the cruel, injurious, unnecessary and even provoked [geajf'ecleerde] 
war with the natives of New Netherland who was sent hither by Director Stuyvesant to 
defend his causes pending before your High Mightinesses, with which, however, he gave 
himself little or no trouble, having, in the meanwhile debauched an honest man's daughter 
here, under promise of marriage, (notwithstanding he had a Wife and Children in New 
Netherland) lived with her here in continual dalliance until he, too, took his departure for 
New Netherland, on the 5 th May 1650 in violation of your High Mightinesses' iterated resolution 
and letters in company with this female whom, with the consent of her friends, and under a 
promise of marriage, he took along with him on ship board. 

Your High Mightinesses were also pleased, for the accommodation of the people there to 
license Derek van Schelluyne as a Notary who hath commenced the exercise of his profession 
there with the consent of the Director and Council, but it being no longer pleasing to the 
Director, he forbade him the exercise of said office, regardless of your High Mightinesses' 
commission, which is in direct opposition to such an act. 

Your High Mightinesses will clearly see from all this and from the annexed petition of the 
people to you, High and Mighty, and from the protest of the Vice Director and Fiscal who, 
with the Select men constituted in that country the Magistracy on behalf of your High 
Mightinesses and the Hon ble West India Company up to the present time, that everything in that 
quarter goes on contrary to your High Mightinesses' direct order, in great confusion, according 
to the will and pleasure alone of the Director and his foreign Council ; the country, without 
population, is reduced to the greatest ruin and brought under foreign nations, English and 
Swedes. Therefore nothing is more necessary than a good Redress, which we have zealously 
and industriously solicited and importuned now for more than two years on behalf of the people. 



440 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Since the Select men and the Magistracy are dismissed contrary to your High Mightinesses' 
commands, and contrary to all right and reason, we again humbly pray and request that they 
be, in conformity with your High Mightinesses' granted order, again commissioned and that 
they continue until further directions from your High Mightinesses ; also, that your High 
Mightinesses would be ^pleased to confirm by resolution the Report made to your 
High Mightinesses' Assembly on the 11 th April 1650 by Mr. van Aertsbergen and the other 
your High Mightinesses' Committee for the affairs of New Netherland, and privately 
communicated to us in writing, and by us sent, with the knowledge and approval of your High 
Mightinesses' committee, to the people of New Netherland — 

So that all confusions and troubleB being cut off thereby, the country may, by means thereof, 
be brought into a state of peaceful prosperity in population and trade, as New England, though 
commenced several years after us, hath now arrived to a high degree of population and 
commerce by a similar mode of government to that laid down and contained in said report. 

And as no demand was made by the aforesaid on your High Mightinesses for money, as in 

the case of the redress of Brazil, but merely an order of government and maintenance against 

violent infraction of privileges granted to the people and Colonists of New Netherland; so the 

said delegate of the Commonalty of New Netherland again humbly prays and requests your High 

Mightinesses to be pleased to dispose favorably of the aforesaid, in order that he, the delegate, 

may leave by the first ship this spring on his return for New Netherland, with your High 

Mightinesses' good resolution, and make a report of his commission to the great comfort and 

joy of the people there, who will be thereby encouraged to supplicate God Almighty more and 

more for the prosperity of your High Mightinesses' administration. 

Which doing, 

(Signed) Adriaen van der Donck. 



Select men of New Amsterdam to the States General. 

[ From a M3. in Ihe Royal Archives at the Hague ; Zoketkas of the Statea Genera! ; Division, West Jndische Compagnie, No. 36. ] 

To the High and Mighty Lords States General of the free United Netherland Provinces, our 
Most Illustrious Sovereigns. 

Gracious Lords. 

The sorrowful and utterly prostrate condition of this country and its poor inhabitants, have 
we been obliged to make known, in their name, to your illustrious High Mightinesses, last 
year, 1649, by our committee and delegates, truly and plainly, according to our ability. Your 
High Mightinesses' condescension in listening to our sad and truthful complaints was a source 
of exceeding great joy to us and the people, for which we cannot sufficiently thank you ; but, 
notwithstanding we fully believe and are assured that your High Mightinesses are again 
preoccupied with highly important affairs, we make bold, and our universal imperious 
necessity presses us humbly to approach your High Mightinesses once more, being forced to 
complain principally of great scarcity, excessively onerous duties, exactions and such like, and 
the grievous inconvenient government over us in these parts. The annexed protest of the 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VI. 441 

Vice Director and Advocate Fiscal (who alone with the Director constitute the government 
here) can assure your High Mightinesses thereof and how it fares here at present. What 
further occurs here touching the decay of the country and the ruin of the inhabitants, would 
be too great a tax on your High Mightinesses' patience. Adriaen van der Donck, the delegate 
on behalf of the Commonalty from our Assembly, to your High Migh-tinesses at the Hague, will 
furnish your High Mightinesses with fuller and more ample information on every point. We 
most humbly pray and implore your High Mightinesses to be pleased to reform and to redress 
the sorrowful and utterly prostrate condition of this country, according to the plan of your 
High Mightinesses' Deputies, or as you will please and determine to be proper for our relief, 
so (hat we and our neighbors may live. We shall expect with great confidence to receive 
next year from your High Mightinesses, the effect of our tendered duties, as our service for 
the Commonalty expires according to our commission and instruction on next New year's 
day, and the Director, not obeying your High Mightinesses' order, gives out that he will not 
act on our nomination of other Select men to be elected in place of the six who retire, so that 
we can, or would, not dare to attempt to meet as a Board and continue in the transaction of 
the public affairs of this country any longer. We have thus represented the matter to your 
High Mightinesses clearly and distinctly, in conformity with the strictest truth, through dread 
that we may be harassed, as others have been heretofore with suits at law, where no cause 
of action lies and with counting half errors for whole ones. After wishing luck and happiness 
on the New year, we shall herewith commend to God's protection your High Mightinesses' 
persons, government and the preservation of this country. Remaining High and Mighty 

Your faithful, obedient and humble servants, 

(Signed) Augustin Herman. 

Jacob van Kouwenhoven. 

Oloff Stevens. 

Machiel Janss. 
In the Assembly of the Select men, Thomas Hall. 

New Amsterdam, Manhatans, Jan Everts Bout. 

New Netherland, 22 d December, 1650. Elbert Elberts. 

And by order of said Selectmen, 

D. V. Schelleuyne, Scribe, 1650. 



Declaration respecting Director StuyvcsanCs Conduct. 

Before me, Derek van Schelluyne, created and admitted, by the High and Mighty Lords 
States General of the United Netherlands a Notary Public, and residing in New Amsterdam, 
Manhattans, in New Netherland, appeared this day, the xix. December, XVI C and fifty, 

The Hon ble Mess" Lubbertus van Dincklage, Vice-Director, and Henricus van Dyck, 
Advocate-Fiscal of New Netherland, declaring, in form of complaint, that Director Petrus 
Stuyvesant said, in substance, on the fourth of July last, in full court, that the Directors of the 
General Incorporated West India Company had notified him not to communicate to us any 
general letter either of their Honors, of their High Mightinesses the Lords States General, his 
Highness or others relating to the affairs of this country. They, accordingly, declare that 
his Honor, pursuant hereunto, has not been pleased to exhibit or to communicate to us, up to 

Vol. I. 56 



442 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

this day, any letter relating to public affairs either from the Company, from their High 
Mightinesses, or from his Highness. Item, that his Honor was pleased to treat on public affairs 
with the English of New England without any resolution or concurrence of our Assembly, 
notwithstanding both the one and the other of us protested against it at divers times. That 
his Honor conveys a great deal of land, mostly to the English, and deeds thereof are issued 
in the name of the Director General and Council, without our having any knowledge thereof; 
that his Honor delivers many orders, replies to petitions, judgments and sentences which his 
clerk, Jacob Kip, issues, without our knowledge and advice ; that his Honor, also, disposes of 
the ship's stores independent of us ; that his Honor, likewise without us, appointed and 
commissioned, as Lieutenant of a company of soldiers consisting of 28 men, an Englishman 
named Brian Nuton, who does not understand the Dutch language, and pronounces judgment, 
with his Honor, on political and all other matters. Item, he retains, as councillor, a Frenchman 
named La Montagne, on like footing, who is indebted to the Company fully ten thousand 
guilders ; and now, again, adjoins as Councillor and Commissary one Carel Verbruggen, also 
an Englishman, all without our knowledge and against our will ; against all which have we 
and the entire Commonalty protested, not being subject, as freemen, to any Military council ; 
the Director hath sold the Company's guns and cannon, with all sorts of munitions of war, to the 
English at Boston ; he retains our salary, and does not pay our just share in the captured 
prizes and confiscations, and thus the country is exposed, by such rule and government, to the 
imminent danger of going to ruin, and ere long to fall into foreign hands ; wherefore, we are 
under the necessity of ignoring all those occurrences and the mischiefs which are impending 
over the country, and expressly to protest before their High Mightinesses, his Highness, the 
Hon ble West India Company and the entire world, holding ourselves pure, clear and innocent; 
consenting that record hereof be made by me, Notary, and delivered in due form, in order to be 
used as shall be deemed advisable to witness the truth hereof. Signed in New Amsterdam, 
Manhatans, New Netherland. Dated ut supra. (Signed) H. van Dyck, fiscal, L. van 
Dincklage, and in presence of me, D. v. Schelluyne, Not. Publ. Underneath was: Agrees 
with the Original remaining with me. D. v. Schelluyne, Not. Publ. 1650. 



Resolution of (lie States General referring Van der Doners Petition. 

[ From tho Register of West India Affairs, 16S2 — 1063, in the Royal ArchiveB at the Hague. ] 

Saturday, 10 th February, 1652. 
a. van de'r°Donck. The petition of Adriaen van der Donck, deputed by the people of New 
Netherland, being read to the Assembly, submitting divers points to their High Mightinesses, 
it is, after deliberation, resolved and concluded, that the aforesaid petition shall be placed in 
the hands of Mess" Capelle tho Ryssel and other their High Mightinesses previous deputies, 
in order to inspect, examine and report on it. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VI. 



443 



Report to, and Resolution of, the States General. 

[ From the Register of West India Affairs, 1652 — 1663, in the Koyal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Friday, the 16 th February, 1652. 

Folio .4. Mess" Capelle the- Ryssel and The States General of the United Nether- 

other, your High Mightinesses' deputies, have lands having looked through, examined and 
reported, that pursuant to resolution of the weighed the annexed points, have, after 
10 th of this current month, they examined the previous deliberation, by resolution declared 
remonstrance and papers submitted by Adriaen as is affixed beside each of them : 
van der Donck, delegate of the Commonalty 
of New Netherland, and found the following 
points of consideration to result from them. 

1. 

The abovenamed delegate recites the com- 
plaints of the deputies from New Netherland, 
made since October, 1649, and your High 
Mightinesses' resolutions for the removal 
thereof, adopted the ll lh April, 1650, and the 
14" 1 March and 21 8t April, 1651, with request 
that they may be carried into effect. 



Presents a petition from the people of New 
Netherland, dated Manhattans, in New Nether- 
land, the xxii December, 1650, signed by six 
men of the Commonalty. 

3. 

Complains of Director Stuyvesant's excesses 
contrary to your High Mightinesses' express 
orders in writing, and letters dated the ll lh 
and 21" April, 1650. Hands in, also, a pro- 
test of the Deputy or Vice-Director Lubbert 
van Dincklage and Hendrick van Dyck, 
Advocate-fiscal of New Netherland, dated 19 th 
December, 1650, against these excesses of 
Director Stuyvesant. 

4. 

States that Director Stuyvesant hath agreed 
on a boundary with the English, subject to 
your High Mightinesses' approbation, by which 
as much land is surrendered to the English, 



The Petitioner is ordered to submit, as soon 
as possible, what he objects against Director 
Stuyvesant, and he shall have to duly verify 
the complaints. 



The Petitioner shall have to make a draft 
of the old boundary line of New Netherland, 
designating what is surrendered to the English 
subject to the approval of their High Mighti- 



444 



NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 



out of the old bounds of New Netherland, as nesses, in order that further action may be 
could form 50 colonies, of 4 leagues square, each, taken on seeing it. 



Requests that the report on the provisional 
order of government, drawn up by Mr. van 
Scheraertsbergen, in presence (met verhoor) of 
the Directors, may be converted into a resolu- 
tion. 



The delegate requests that he may be 
discharged, in order to his return to New 
Netherland with the aforesaid provisional 
order of government. 



The Provinces are requested to give their 
opinions — the sooner the better — on this 
provisional order of government, and it is 
further resolved to send a copy of it to the 
respective Chambers of the West India Com- 
pany, with order to communicate their 
considerations thereon, at the earliest moment. 

When final disposition shall be made of the 
5 ,b article, due regard shall be taken for the 
petitioner's discharge. 



Extracts of Letters, Journals, Resolutions, &c, from New Netherland. 

I From the Notarial copy in the Royal Archives at the Hague ; Loketkas of the States General ; Division, Went Inditche Compagnit, No. 86. ] 

Extracts and Copies of Letters, Memoirs, Journals and Resolutions sent by the 
Select men of New Netherland in the years 1650 and 1051, to Adriaen van 
der Donck, corroborating the petition; (furnished) pursuant to their High 
Hightinesses' Order dated 16 th February, 1652. 

Extract of a letter of the Select men dated l? ,h Agust 1650 to Adriaen van 
der Donck. 

You will learn from our letter to the Noble Mighty Lords their High Mightinesses' deputies 
on the affairs of New Netherland, the time of our arrival here and in what condition we found 
the Board and the Commonalty. 

The people are greatly imposed on; men will fain hang and burn the Select men, and 
moreover, whilst duly observing our honor and oath, &c. The affliction in which the poor 
Commonalty here live, cannot be any longer endured ; they are more and more oppressed. 



Extracts of two different letters from Augustin Herman, dated 10 September, 1650. 

Further, whatever you have done there for the public interests, I, for my part, do especially 
approve; hope also 'twill terminate well, although the opposite party jeer at it, saying, when 
they do anything — Go, and complain to the States. We are anxiously expecting the approval 
of the Redress and a change, about which we [can talk] in covered terms; but if it endure 
longer, I fear 'twill terminate badly, which God forbid. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VI. 445 

The Director hath seized three ships, because he will have from each one hundred pounds 
of powder, harbor duty; though neither Mr. Dincklagen nor the Fiscal knows anything of it, 
nor was it determined on in Council, yet he will have it by force ; but Vastrick and Bloemert 
are gone free, or are paid for it. It appears that the Company backs him up strongly. I had, 
indeed, brought a flag with me for the Burghers, but Stuyvesant will not allow it to be carried. 
He does as he pleases. 

Extract of the letter of Jacob van Couwenhoven and Dierck van Schelluyne, 
Notary, dated the 13th September, 1G50. 

The Director and his partizans work secrectly among the people and make them believe 
that we have done nothing but brought expense on the Commonalty; that their High 
Mightinesses will never introduce reforms into the country; that the Directors write, they will 
maintain him ; that the gentlemen from Amsterdam will steadily oppose the Redress ; and 
thus he attracts to him most of the people who derive some profit thereby. For the rest, we 
and others who mean well, are aware and will yet find (God help us) that we have done 
harm ; shall be eventually ruined and run aground, if the Redress do not arrive speedily. 

Extract from an authentic copy of a letter from Vice Director Dincklage to the 
Hon hle Directors of the Amsterdam Chamber, dated the 8 th Septemb r 1650. 

I have already addressed two letters to your Honors, but have not received any answer to 
them. At present, I write only this: — Here the law is violated. 1 Profit is loss; and public, 
is private property; resources are wasted and diverted without advantage to the Hon ble 
Company and the country ; I cannot help it, as Director Stuyvesant says, 'tis none of my 
business; that he will answer for it all at Amsterdam. 



Extract of a letter from the Select men, dated 13 lh Sepf 1650. 

We have described the sad condition of this Country in the accompanying letter to their 
High Mightinesses and their committee on the affairs of New Netherland. Things proceed 
daily, in truth, as related in the letter. We are obliged to listen every day to scoffs and sneers 
from many because their High Mightinesses have done nothing in the matter of the Redress, 
which several have flung so far off" that it could not come to life. 

Extract of the Journal kept by order of the Commonalty to which they refer in 
letters to us. 

4 July, 1650. Friends report and complain that they have not only not been recognized by 
the Director and Council during the absence of the delegates, but that contumely and 
reproaches have been cast on them by the Director, from whom they were obliged also to 
listen to divers calumnies, iusults and contumelious words; they also complain that the Director 

1 Hier gaet men met den reckten weg. 



446 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

was pleased on the 3 d of April last, with a view to insult and affront the Select men, to cause 
the benches in their pew in the Church to be torn up, and to take possession of it himself. 

About this time the Fiscal received a settlement of his share of the confiscations, and being 
referred therewith to the Directors, he showed it to the Commonalty and reported also abroad, 
among, others to Oloff Stevense and Schelluyne, that the Director swallows everything; that 
he will prove him a perjured villain and that he hath robbed the Company of fully one 
hundred thousand guilders. 

Extract of a letter from the Vice-Director, dated 12 th September, 1650. 

The people here are somewhat solaced on learning from the despatch that the affairs of 
New Netherland are beginning to be thoroughly and truly considered by their High 
Mightinesses, but they anxiously expect absolute Redress. Seeing they are so harassed and 
plagued in every way, it surprizes me that they have endured it so long, and I cannot easily 
help it. Several affidavits, to be annexed hereunto, should make some commotion. 1 have 
enough to do to keep the people quiet. The abuses and faults are as notorious as the sun at 
clear noon. 

Extract of the letter from the Select men to Van der Donck, dated the C ,h 
September, 1650. 

Among other things, some individual Directors of Amsterdam have written by Vastrick to 
the Director General that they will uphold him with all their might and means; that they 
shall be dismissed before him; that the Burgomasters of Amsterdam will effectually oppose 
the Redress, &c. But the Board and I shall all confidently rely on their High Mightinesses 
and the Lords of the Committee abovementioned, and depend on their words and earnest 
zeal, and exercise patience in all things, although wholesale ruin of ourselves and of the 
people and country, stares us in the face, and the water reaches almost to our lips. 

Extract of a Memoir sent by Mr. van Dinclage to Van der Donck. 

Petrus Stuyvesant, Director of New Netherland, Curasao, &c, did nothing in this country 
and Curasao during the last four years, from the year 1640 to this current year, 1650, for the 
benefit of the Incorporated West India Company, this Burghery or the inhabitants, 
notwithstanding he, himself, declared in the year 1647, before the entire Commonalty under 
arms, when he came into office and Kieft retired, that he should govern, and be, like a father 
over his children, for the advantage of the Incorporated West India Company and this Burghery 
and country. The aforesaid Memoir being, further, of the same tenor and purport, but too 
long to peruse. 

Extract of a letter from Jacob van Couwenhoven and Dirck van Schelluyne, the 
Notary, to Van der Donck, dated 6 th October, 1650. 

I embrace the opportunity afforded by the departure of the ketch called the Voorlooper, for 
the Caribbean Islands, to advise you, by way of Barbadoes, that we have not as yet received the 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VI. 447 

Redress of New Netherland nor any improvement here, but find the sorrowful condition of 
this country to be worse and worse, and in a short time we shall have to feel the smart; this 
urges on me to recommend to you particularly the despatch of affairs. On motion made by 
himself in Council, but on which no resolution followed, Director Stuyvesant departed on the 
17 lh September last for New England, with an intention, according to said motion, of which I 
have a copy but dare not undertake to send it over herewith, to transact some public business 
there at the meeting of the General court. What he will propose in that quarter, time 
will determine. 

Should Secretary Thienhoven come here with people and troops, as is reported, we shall 
again have war with the Indians, and they fear it; and if he come here before the Redress, it 
can easily occur, for the Indians have no confidence in him, and should he come, they will not 
imagine anything else. In fine, adding this to what has been written to you by the Valckenier, 
you can well imagine our condition and anxiety. 

The Select men of New Amsterdam to the States General. 

High and Mighty Lords, Gracious Sovereigns. 

Jacob van Couwenhoven and Jan Evertsen Bout, the two delegates sent commissioned by 
our Board to your High Mightinesses last year. 1649, in consequence of the imperious 
necessity of the poor suffering people of this country, arrived here again through God's mercy 
on the 2S ,h June, bringing with them an authentic copy of the report or Provisional Order, on 
the subject of the Redress, Preservation and Peopling of this Country, drawn up and 
submitted to your High Mightinesses, by your High Mightinesses' Committee, acting in the 
affairs of New Netherland. We confidently trust that nothing but the tedious and dangerous 
voyage has prevented our receipt to this time, of your High Mightinesses' approval thereof, 
for we have seen and found you, High and Mighty, to be our dear fathers, who have been 
pleased to take to heart the sorrowful condition and urgent necessity of this poor afflicted 
Commonalty. We are unable to evince or to proffer sufficient thankfulness to the good God 
and you, High and Mighty; the love and affection shown to us, can amply supply this. Your 
High Mightinesses' letter being handed by our delegated associates to Director General 
Stuyvesant and Council, on the said 2S ,b June, they have in consequence of the non-arrival of the 
Redress, been pleased to disregard your High Mightinesses' orders up to this time, with 
the exception alone of the proclamation of the peace with the King of Spain, which has been 
made here only at the Manhattans and no further, to our knowledge. The wretched 
condition of this country continues, meanwhile, unaltered, and has even become worse, as we 
have communicated to our associate delegate Adriaen van der Donck. We are, therefore, to 
our grief and sorrow, under the necessity of troubling you in this manner and of again 
imploring your favor, and pray you, High and Mighty, to be pleased to be indulgent towards 
us, for so long as the Redress is not here, we cannot refrain from so doing; therefore, hoping 
that its speedy arrival will comfort and console us, we, in concluding, shall commend you, 
High and Mighty, both generally and in particular, and your prosperous and wholesome 
Government unto God's protection, remaining your High Mightinesses' most humble and 
most faithful servants. 1 

1 Dated 13 September, 1650. See duplicate, supra, p. 420. — Ed. 



448 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

The Select men of New Amsterdam to the Committee of the States General. 

Noble Mighty Lords. 

On the arrival here, namely, on the 2S ,h June last, of Jacob van Couwenhoven and Jan 
Evertse Boutt, delegates sent commissioned by our Board last year to their High Mightinesses, 
and on the delivery of the letters from their High Mightinesses and others, to the Director and 
Council of New Netherland, we wrote to their High Mightinesses, and summarily related in 
brief, that the Director and Council did not observe their High Mightinesses' order. The 
melancholy condition of this country remains unchanged, and even has become worse ; His 
Honor does not recognize any Select men, and regards not our Board ; he considers not of the 
least account the copy of the report and Provisional Order. ! i the matter of the Redress, 
preservation and peopling of New Netherland, &c, with great labor and pains drawn up, 
proposed and submitted by you, High and Mighty, for the advantage of this country and its 
inhabitants, and which we were under the necessity of communicating to the Commonalty, in 
order to animate and encourage them, notwithstanding his Honor never deigned to look at it. 
The Commonalty live in fear and anguish, not knowing with whom to associate. They dare 
not now, as we fully know, make any declaration of what they are cognizant of. Terror 
possesses them, thinking he can still injure us. But we hope that their High Mightinesses and 
you, Noble Mighty, will give full credit to all that we have represented and written, all 
which (God help us) is too true — We gladly saw, and it was fortunate that the drainage of 
the people had ceased, and that they could earn an honorable livelihood. God grant that the 
country may this year be redressed ; it would cheer and console the people and set them on 
their legs, otherwise we and the entire country are in danger of going to ruin, and of falling 
into foreign hands. But we shall wait patiently, and cannot but hope that a matter in which 
their Higli Mightinesses have taken so much trouble and interest, hath already, or will soon, 
come to perfection. We cannot conceive, let alone express, words sufficient to convey our 
gratitude to you, Noble Mighty. We have written to our delegate and agent, Adriaen van der 
Donck, all the particulars; we request and pray you, Noble Mighty, to be pleased to attach 
credit to it all, which is the strict truth, and to continue to support and uphold the cause, and 
to look with indulgence on, and to excuse our plain and humble style. Herewith shall we 
commend you, Noble Mighty, in general and in particular, and your prosperous and good 
government to God's protection, remaining, Noble Mighty, your most humble and most 
faithful servants. 

(Addressed:) 

To the Noble Mighty Lords, the Lords 
van Aertsbergen and the other their 
High Mightinesses' deputies, occupied 
with the affairs of New Netherland. 



Copy of an extract from the Register of the resolutions of the Select men of 
New Amsterdam, Manhattans, the 29 th August, 1G50. 

Honorable Gentlemen. 

Whereas the High and Mighty Lords States General of the United Netherlands, by letters 
delivered to the Director General on the 28 th June last, resolve to continue our Board, and you, 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VI. 449 

regardless thereof, have not been pleased to recognize us, up to the present time. Item, whereas 

the Director General hath caused the benches in the Select men's pew in the church, which 

was conferred on us by his honor and the churchwardens, to be torn up, and took possession 

thereof himself, to the derogation, derision and contumely of our Board ; which, though it 

concerns not us individually, but regards the Board, who represent the people, therefore, are 

we necessitated under protest, to declare such derogation and affronts unjustifiable and 

unauthorized. Done at the meeting of the Select men, in New Amsterdam, Manhattans, New 

Netherland, the 29 ,h August, 1650. 

(Signed ) Olof Stevensse. 
Beneath was, 

By order of the Select men in New Amsterdam. 

(Signed) D. van Schelluyne. 

Extract from the Journal of the Select men. 3 November, 1650. 

The English of Gravesend among others, having, with the Director's consent, given the 
Indians of Cannarse some stamped guns, in payment for their land, the latter came with them 
on the 6 ,h ditto to Couwenhoven's house. Couwenhoven complained of it to the Fiscal, and to 
Mr. Montagne who, too, hath seen the guns ; but without any result. 'Twas allowed to pass so. 

Extract from the letter of the Select men to Van der Donck, dated 22 nd 
December, 1650. 

We observe, with surprise, that the directors of the affairs of this country have made a 
representation to the Burgomasters of Amsterdam accusing us most unjustly of endeavoring to 
divert the trade of this country, and that they believing the statement, are pleased so powerfully 
to protect and encourage their Honors in their error, when our aim and endeavor never had 
any other object than the Company's and country's welfare. 

Cornells Melyn arrived here on the ]y tb instant, having been nineteen weeks at sea, and in 
great peril. Their High Mightinesses having granted him an order and protection so as not to 
be molested by any person, places us under dutiful thankfulness to their High Mightinesses; 
but the Directors, or some others having on the contrary instructed their Officer here, not to 
respect any safeguard granted, or to be granted, by their High Mightinesses to any inhabitant 
of New Netherland, as appears by declaration, an opinion can be formed as to the cause of the 
troubles and ruin of this country and its inhabitants, and of the insulting resistance to their 
High Mightinesses' orders. 

Extract from a declaration of the Vice Director as to the answer he received 
from the Fiscal, when he inquired about the news from Holland ; dated 3 d 
November 1650. 

The Fiscal answered, Myn Heer Stuyvesant told me the Directors write, that their High 
Mightinesses have referred the affairs of New Netherland to them, as that country belongs 
exclusively to them, and 1 shall remain some years longer. They also write that we should 
Vol. I. 57 



450 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

not consider of any value, nor regard in the least, the protections and passes which their High 
Mightinesses had already granted and given, or should hereafter grant to any inhabitants "of 
New Netherland, &c. 

Extract from a declaration of Joachim Peters Cuyter in the matter and case 
aforesaid ; dated as above. 

Myn Heer Stuyvesant had received several letters ; among others, from Mr. Pergens and 
other individual directors of the Hon ble West India Company, and that M r Pergens had written, 
that the Committee had from their body stated to their High Mightinesses in the matter of New 
Netherland in their High Mightinesses' meeting, that New Netherland did not belong to their 
High Mightinesses ; that the Lords Majors had purchased the country ; that it was their property 
exclusively, and also that such was true. He said further, that they will uphold the Director 
with all their might and means, even (they write) unto blood. 

Extract from the letter of the Selectmen to Van der Donck, of 22 nd December 1650. 

At present we are nothing more than ciphers and esteemed as a scoff, and Stuyvesant 
moreover threatens us with utter ruin, for which purpose he applies every means, and we 
already behold with pain its approach from a distance. This, it appears, will be the end and 
reward of our honest labor for the public good, unless God and their High Mightinesses 
otherwise seasonably provide, as we, nevertheless, hope and trust they will. We have, among 
other things, submitted to the Director and Council on the 12 ,h of this month, pursuant to our 
Commission and instructions, the nomination of a double number in order to elect six other 
Select men in place of those retiring, but he himself reports, that he will not act on it ; he says, 
that we have exceeded our Commission and instruction, and ignores the amplification granted 
to us, which he, nevertheless, signed in his Register of resolutions in the presence of us all, and 
his Council afterwards approved and also signed. 

The Vice Director and Fiscal entered the annexed protest against the Director principally 
because his Honor hath without their knowledge negotiated with the English at the North, and 
in that transaction hath without doubt committed an error, for the version of the news from 
New P^ngland is for the most part true ; and moreover, because his Honor was not willing to 
communicate anything about it to them. There is one circumstance regarding this protest, 
worthy of remark, viz', The Vice director and Fiscal are continued of the Council, and not 
discharged or dismissed, yet, though everything is kept secret and concealed from them, all is 
done and executed as if they assented thereunto. 

Extract of a joint letter of the Select men to Adriaen van der Donck, dated 
26 November, 1650. 

To be brief, you will be able to understand everything from the accompanying. It grieves 
us exceedingly that we, in the observance of our oaths and honor, are still daily subjected to 
gross scoffs, jeers and misrepresentations, to our serious private loss respectively, as has been 
stated to you in the extract from the Journal, &c. So far is it gone, that the Director, instead 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VI. 451 

of obeying their High Mightinesses' order, acts directly contrary to it. His Honor has been 
with the English at the North, and negotiated with them about the boundaries, &c, but keeps 
it all, as yet, a secret from his Coupcil. The annexed news from New England, which has 
been brought here and thrown in to a certain English house, where the English themselves 
laugh at the Director, is, we fear, too true, as it is, also, confirmed by daily rumors. We hope 
and request that you, at least, will do your duty so that it may attract the attention of our 
Sovereigns when the Treaty of the Director and the English may come up for ratification. 
We know not what the Director will effect by such a mode of proceeding, especially as it 
happens that the stamped guns, distributed among the people, are sold to the Indians with his 
consent, and those guilty of such acts are not sought for; whereby, and as his Honor will not 
permit the inspection of the arms, still further opportunity is afforded. Those persons would 
be soon found out were the Director pleased to follow their High Mightinesses' order; 
certainly if he will permit those who have charge of the distribution, to obey it ; but that may 
not be. 'Tis now all of two years, last Amsterdam fair, since the citizens were under arms; 
and under these circumstances we fear, that as long a time will elapse again ; that for divers 
reasons and from daily experience, the Indians will anticipate the Director and exact from us 
a woful inspection of our guns, and may God grant that the weakness of the citizens and 
people may be ready in their own defence. The past and the present impress on you the 
advancement of matters more strongly than our pen can herein recommend. We entertain no 
doubt of your devotedness, and, being disinclined to make further complaint, we hope that 
their High Mightinesses will at once put an end to the affair, and forthwith determine the 
intolerable disunion, confusion and jarrings ; whether these are now again set on foot by 
Directors in Fatherland, or whether they are fomented among the people on the invention of 
the Executive and Fiscal here, we leave others to infer from the annexed papers. For, the 
Director being still in his sovereign power, we dare not write any more to their High 
Mightinesses, as he again obtains copies of everything; and we dread that the effects of his 
daily menaces will light suddenly on our heads, and that the country will, moreover, if 
seasonable provision be not made by their High Mightinesses in the premises, soon fall into 
the hands of foreigners, an event rendered the more probable by the non-resistance the Swede 
meets with in the South river, and the high favor the English experience. So much 
transpires for the ruin of this country that it makes our heads ache to think of it. His 
permitting the Vice-Director and our Board to continue until further order, pursuant to the 
commands of their High Mightinesses, is too far away. A somewhat different result will be 
easily witnessed next New-Year ; and the Director still represents, that he is anxious to be at 
the Hague to vindicate himself but that it may be done here. If their High Mightinesses be 
not easily imposed upon by falsehoods and frauds, it will not be difficult for us to prove and 
establish, according to the Remonstrance and daily experience, the melancholy condition to 
which the people here is reduced by mismanagement and misgovernment. We think it 
strange that no better attention is paid to the Vice-Director's repeated letters to the Board of 
Directors informing them that their public property in this country is becoming private, and 
that the public good is not studied here. It grieves us extremely that the Hon ble Company 
itself is defrauded, the people oppressed, and that even such persons are still found as 
counteract the public interest. You can readily conceive what grief it causes among the 
people here when the Fiscal announced that the Directors (in Amsterdam) had written to 
Mr. Stuyvesaut, among many other things, to pay no regard nor attention to any safeguard or 



452 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

passport of their High Mightinesses. Mr. Pergens and others know best whether it be so. It 
grieves us to be obliged to listen to such things; high eulogiums on the Hon blc Company and 
ridicule of the States and the Ship of state (whereof we have never made mention), is greatly 
in vogue with the Director and his adherents, and recourse is had to every expedient to 
influence our Board and to insult us in particular, so that we may by our errors in some way 
afford a pretext for confiscations and banishments. But we hope that the good God will 
preserve us against this craftiness, and that their High Mightinesses will quickly bring matters 
to a close, for our release from this wearisome business. 

Extracts of the last letters of the year 1651, written to me since the Select men 
and the Vice Director have been dismissed, contrary to their High 
Mightinesses' order; serving also for the justification and verification of the 
petition, as proving clearly the points set forth therein. 

Extract of the letter of the 12 th September, 1651, signed by the Select men. 

In order to avoid any error on our parts, and pursuant to our instructions, which are equally 
binding on the Director as on us, we submitted last New Year to his Honor (although he, 
contrary to their High Mightinesses' Instructions, would not condescend to recognize us) a 
nomination of a double number, to choose from it six new Select men in the place of those 
retiring, whom his Honor was pleased in this wise to discharge, &c, doing his best, for all 
that, to prosecute us on account of the Remonstrance to their High Mightinesses, and in the 
meantime to institute proceedings against us. We are fully aware of that, by means of this 
Board, which dare not oppose the Director and all his illegal actions, or maintain justice. 
Notwithstanding, we finding ourselves overpowered and out of office, dare not meet together 
without getting into difficulty, yet have we contrived to communicate these to you. 'Twill 
not be in our power after this, to watch over the public interests. The matter being 
thoroughly understood in Fatherland, it remains with you to deliberate and to ascertain 
whether the Redress and the expense thereon, are to be furnished by their High Mightinesses 
or in what other manner, &c. 



Extract of a lengthy letter from Schelluyne, being wholly a complaint of the 
violence experienced by him. Date, lS ,h Octob r , 1651. 

The favor in which Tienhoven is still received by him (Stuyvesant), and his false tongue, 
to which credit is given, cause no little trouble. I dare not prepare any more writings. I 
commend matters to God. 

You will be able to see from mine and other persons' letters, how we are lorded, and how, 
with his illegally appointed Select men, we live like sheep among wolves, one friend not being 
able to speak to another without suspicion. I greatly desire to communicate verbally with 
you and others. I had willingly assisted Melyn in sending over his documents, but with my 
inhibition it could not be; however, the most important are forwarded. In my opinion, 
'twill be decided that very spoil has been made of another man's property. Whilst almost 
every one is harassed by all sorts of practices, power, force and undue means, as Melyn, 
myself, Dyckman, the bookkeeper, and others, have just reason to complain, I hope, and 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VI. 453 

justice demands, that when requisite, such be taken into consideration, and no person be 
condemned unheard. It grieves me that the representative sovereignty of their High 
Mightinesses should be abused here, as appears by the annexed furnished to me; otherwise, 
people would be ashamed to obstruct everybody's complaints before their High Mightinesses 
and the Hon 1,le Company, &c. Sic passim. 

Extract from a Latin letter, addressed by Van Dincklage to Van der Donck, 19 lh 
September, J 651. 

To describe the state of this government to one well acquainted and conversant with it, is 
a work of supererogation ; 'tis to wash a blackamoor. Our great Muscovy Duke goes on as 
usual, with something of the wolf; the older he gets the more inclined is he to bite. He 
proceeds no longer by words or writings, but by arrests and stripes. We daily expect Redress 
and a remedy. 

A letter from Govert Loockermans, dated 22 nd September, 1651, states, in substance, that 
he was prosecuted capitally by the Director and banished for three years; that the suit in this 
case continued only 5 days; that execution will be issued, unless Loockermans will sign a 
certificate that he knows and can say nothing of the Director and his government, but what 
is honest and honorable. 



Extract from a letter of Augustin Hermans, dated 20 th September, 1651. 

I wish I felt authorized to advise you of better news. The Redress remaining still behind, 
contrary to our expectation, we are not only threatened, plagued, obstructed and affronted, but 
shall be also totally ruined. Govert Loockermans is totally ruined, because he will not sign 
that he knows and can say nothing of Director Stuyvesant, but what is honest and honorable. 
I fear we, too, shall experience a like fate ; whether we have safeguards from their High 
Mightinesses or not, 'tis all alike; the Directors have written not to pay any attention to 
their High Mightinesses' safeguards or letters, but to theirs; and every one can see how 
prejudicial that is to us. We are turned out and dare scarcely speak a word, etc. In fine, 
matters are so situated, that God's help only will avail ; there is no trust to be placed in man. 
That infernal swaggerer (blasegccst) Tienhoven, has returned here and put the country in a 
blaze. Things prosper, they report, according to their wishes, to wbkh I know not what 
to answer, etc. 

The basketmaker's daughter of Amsterdam, whom he seduced in Holland, on a promise of 
marriage, coming here and finding he was already married, hath exposed his conduct even in 
the public court, &c. Your private estate, is going all to ruin, for our enemies know how to 
fix all this and to attain their object. There is no use in complaining; we must suffer 
injustice for justice. At present, that is our wages and thanks for our devotion to the public 
interests. Yet we still trust in God, etc. 



454 ' NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Extract of a letter from Dirck van Schelluyne, dated 11 th October, 1051, sent by- 
way of the Caribbean Islands. 

I have written you per Joost Michielsen's ship and communicated to you my experience 
here, which is that I am forced, contrary to my oath, to divulge what I have written, or what 
has been executed in my presence, against public or private persons generally and individually ; 
also, in what a painful position I find myself, on account of another's act, &a. Relying on 
you, I shall expect, on the first opportunity, your favorable diligence to avert my ruin. If the 
Redress be not confirmed, and if it do not arrive by the first vessels, I shall be obliged to sell 
my little property and go back with my wife and children. Otherwise I must waste it 
altogether in poverty, inasmuch as every effort is made use of here to ruin me and to take 
the bread out of my mouth. 

I should have sent the papers in the case of Melyn altogether, but as nobody would consent 
to collate them with me, not even Allard Anthony, notwithstanding I had requested him to 
do so, and I dare not trust the documents in my house through fear that Stuyvesant would 
remove all my papers as he proposed and threatened, it was therefore out of my power to send 
them over. Had he been willing to permit me to go, I should have carried them with me. I 
doubt not but such unheard of mode of proceeding will be taken into consideration, and we 
released at once from this dreadful yoke. I have had every intention to build on a lot that 
1 had purchased from Mr. Dincklage; also, to undertake a bouwerie, but dare not commence 
so long as things continue thus, dreading and anticipating the moment I had any real estate 
here, that a false suit would be thrown around my neck and my property be swallowed up; 
according to all the examples I have seen of those who do not submit to haughty humor, and 
cannot say — Yes, My lord. 

Had I been able to go over, I should indeed say, what now I dare not write. 

A Protest of the Fiscal Hendrick van Dyck, states in substance. 

That the Director molests and injures him, the Fiscal ; making seizures by his own authority; 
cites him before the Lords Majors in Fatherland ; protests against it before God and the 
entire world. 

An Interrogatory for Secretary Tienhoven, who departed hence from the Hague 
contrary to their High Mightinesses' order, sets forth : — 

That he debauched Lisbeth van Hoogvelt, under a promise of marriage, kept house with 
her some months, and that they conversed together as man and wife; the said Tienhoven 
having been previously married in New Netherland, where his wife is still living. 

Divers Extracts from the papers of the year 1051, received from New Netherland. 

Extract from the counter protest of Lubbert van Dincklage, dated 2S ,h 
February, 1051. 

Their High Mightinesses' letters have bean scandalously slighted by you, especially by the 
Director, instead of communicating them to me, and obeying their High Mightinesses' orders, 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VI. 455 

as ought to have been done. That this is incontrovertibly true and truthful, is more than 
manifest, for the Director and Council are charged by the said letter, dated 12 ,b April aforesaid, 
to permit the continuance of the Board of Nine Men until their High Mightinesses' further 
orders: that is not only disobeyed and slighted, but the instruction and its amplification, 
granted them by our court, is by you set at nought. 

The hundred muskets which Jacob van Couvvenhoven brought with him, two or three 
unstamped ones of which the Director seized and apparently sold the whole to the Indians, were 
not only not distributed among the people, with the knowledge of the Director and Council 
and the Select men, pursuant to their High Mightinesses' orders and letters, dated 1 st April 
aforesaid, but the Burghers' arms were not inspected every three months, as their High 
Mightinesses had directed, so that the contempt shown thereto, is incontrovertible, especially 
as it happened that the officers of the Burgher companies, through good disposition for the 
public service, requesting the Director to allow them to bring the corps once under arms, in 
order that they might send a list thereof to their High Mightinesses, received for answer from 
His Honor: — " When I want you for that purpose I shall send for you." So that 'tis now the 
third half year since the Burgher companies have been mustered underarms, and 'tis certainly 
to be feared that they will be unable properly to defend themselves in time of necessity — 

Whilst your Honors' disrespect caused both the stamped and other guns to be sold to the 
Indians, who were seen running all over the Manhattans with some of them. 

Wherefore will you with too fluent a pen, multitudinous false accusations, and divers highly 
embellished fruitless writings, after the ancient custom of the Director away elsewhere, oblige 
me, as it were, to demonstrate to you the monopoly and imposition which the Director and 
some of the Board in Amsterdam, and not the Board in general as you by perversion falsely 
accused me of saying, have so long carried on, to the prejudice of the Hon ble Company's charter 
and contrary to your oath and bounden duty. Some instances thereof I shall lay before you, 
as it appears I must refresh your Honors' memory with the truth. 

Is it not monopoly in the Director when, having sailed in the year 1G46 from Fatherland for 
New Netherland with the ships the Princess and Groote Gcrrit, on arriving in the latitude of 
the Canary Islands, he altered the course to New Netherland, the destined place, and set 
towards and ran to Curasao, by which means the traders having freight on board, knowing 
no better than that they should proceed direct to New Netherland, suffered serious loss and 
damage, as everybody in Amsterdam was advised by public printed notices; a statement 
whereof has been made: and many people, who were engaged in the Hon ble Company's service 
in New Netherland and nowhere else, and would not consent to go to any other place, were 
with other free men, deceived in their good designs and intentions, and reduced to such grief 
and discouragement that many of them died of broken hearts on the voyage and at Curasao? 

Is it not monopoly in the Director at Cura§ao, where skipper Jan Smal made one voyage 
from Holland contrary to the Hon ble Company's commission, to dismiss Fiscal Hendrick 
van Dyck's suit, when he wanted to prosecute said skipper to confiscation, for having returned 
thither a second time to trade? 

Is it not monopoly in the Director, on skipper Adriaen Blommert's arrival at New Netherland 
from Holland, to destine and send him to Curacao and Aruba, to take in horses there, which 
he sold in Antigua? 

Is it not monopoly in the Director to send horses by Arent van Curler from New Netherland 
to Barbadoes in the ship denJongcti Prim van Demiemarquen, to be sold there, which were required 



456 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

in New Netherland for the cultivation of the soil and for the benefit and advantage of the 
Hon ble Company's domain in these parts? 

Is it not monopoly and are they not fraudulent papers, when the Director grants lands 
(mostly to the English,) and issues patents thereof in the name of the Director and Council, 
as if the Fiscal and I had voted for them, when we, nevertheless, had no knowledge of them ? 

Is it not monopoly and are they not private conventicles, when postils, judgments and 
sentences are pronounced in the name of the Director and Council, unknown to me 
and the Fiscal? 

Is it not monopoly in the Director to distribute and absolutely grant away in fee to 
individuals, lands and lots acquired at great cost by the Hon ble Company, and among the rest 
wild woodland ? 

Is it not monopoly for the Director to visit the English at the North, and there, without the 
Fiscal's or my order and consent, to confer and make treaties, and not render any report 
thereof to the Council, notwithstanding he was thereunto frequently invited? 

Is it not monopoly in the Director to alienate and sell the Company's shot and munitions of 
war, without the Fiscal's and my consent ? 

Is it not monopoly in the Director to dispose of ship's stores without the Fiscal's and my 
knowledge? 

Is it not monopoly for the Director not to pay either the Fiscal or me our share of the ships 
legally confiscated, but to retain the whole to himself? 

Is it not monopoly to keep to himself, and not to produce their High Mightinesses' letter, 
dated 19 ,h May, 1648, written to the Director and Council, wherefore the publication of the 
peace was not made before the receipt of their High Mightinesses' second letter, bearing date 
1 st April, 1650 aforesaid, and prizes are still so long detained here? 

Is it not monopoly for the Managers ( bewinthebberen, ) to write to the Director, as the latter 
asserted hifleno collcgio on the 4" 1 July, not to communicate to the Fiscal or me, any letters 
either from their High Mightinesses or from his Highness, or from the Hon ble Company; and 
that he hath concealed and detained, and still detains said letters, notwithstanding copies 
thereof have been requested by me in the Council ? 

Here, in the first place, are thirteen instances to the dozen. If more be required, more can 
be produced, and if demanded, can be proved on request being made. 

From all the aforesaid, your Honors can best infer, and in your consciences and hearts 
bethink yourselves what grave faults and mistakes have been committed and perpetrated 
against your Hon" oath and bounden duty, by illegal proceedings, slighting their High 
Mightinesses' orders, and the abuse of the Hon ble Company's charter, &c. 

Extract from the attestation of Brant van Slichtenhorst, Director of the Colonie 
Renselaerswyck, dated in New Amsterdam, Manhattans, New Netherland, 
2 d May, 1651. 

And Dincklagen not being willing to depart (that is, from the Council) before and until he, 
the Director, exhibited authority therefor, Director Stuyvesant called the Serjeant and two 
soldiers (who placed their guns beside the door), also, Lieutenant Neuton and Ensign Baxter, 
who came to his assistance and seized Dincklagen by the body, pushing him thus, together, 
by force, out of the house, notwithstanding Mr. Dincklage warned them to take good heed 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VI. 457 

what they did ; on the way to the guard-house, when they stood still a short time, he again 
warned them, but they proceeded with him, and took him to the guard-house. 

Extract of the copy of a letter sent by Vice-Director Lubbert van Dincklagen, 
to the Directors at the Chambers at Amsterdam, and dated 17 th September, 
1651, speaking of Director Stuyvesant. 

It were yet more commendable, were attention paid to those who, on the means of the Hon ljlc 
Company, or of the stockholders support, in foreign parts, great pomp and expensive style; 
retrieve, moreover, their wretched affairs in a remarkable manner; consume by thousands, and 
are not content with a second, but again take everything at the expense of the Company, a 
second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth, &c. 'Tis a plague, a punishment, the 
total ruin and confusion of the Hon ble laudable West India Company, that such a man (meaning 
the Director), who dares to alienate, convey, sell and give away, not only their movables, but 
even their domain, real estate, &c, to make unto himself friends of this unrighteous Mammon, 
should still be upheld and protected with soul and body by some, as I see with my eyes. 
What stupid boors feel for and grope after, the children on the street understand : non sunt fabulce 
neque auguria. 

I, the undersigned, Notary at the Hague, certify that having carefully examined 
and compared all the aforesaid copies and extracts, with the originals, piece by piece, 
they are found strictly to agree with the same, so far as the aforesaid extracts are 
concerned, in words and dates, this xxi April, 1652. Hague. 

(Signed) M. Beeckman, 

Not* Publ. 



Memoir on the Boundaries of New Netherlands By Adriaen van der Donch 

[ From a Notarial copy in the Eoyal Archives at the Hague ; Zaketieas of the States General ; Division, West Indische Covtpagnie, No. 86. ] 

Memoir respecting the ancient Boundaries of New Netherland, as first occupied 
in the year 1609 ; the usurpations, from time to time, of the English, and, 
finally, what has been ceded by Director Stuyvesant to the English, subject 
to their High Mightinesses' ratification, as indicated in letters and memoirs 
from New Netherland, drawn up pursuant to their High Mightinesses' last 
resolution, dated 10 th February, 1652. 

Albeit the ancient original Boundaries are very fully treated of at page 11 to page 22 ' of the 
Great Remonstrance made by the people of New Netherland and presented in October, 1649, 
by their Delegates to their High Mightinesses, and afterwards published in print, to which 

1 Pp. 283, 293, supra. — Ed. 

Vol. I. 5S 



458 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

their Noble Mightinesses are respectfully referred ; it will be highly necessary briefly to 
review and explain what has occurred since the Remonstrance has been prepared. 

That paper relates that New Netherland was casually discovered in the year 1609 ; that the 
Netherlander were the first finders and occupiers thereof; that the English came to those 
parts, for the first time, some years after due possession had been taken thereof by the Dutch ; 
that the former had been protested against, from time to time, and that they had continued to 
advance by force, and not of right, &c. 

But in order to be more precise, we shall say a word generally of the progress of the affair. 
'Tis, then, thus: — The English remarking from time to time more closely and particularly 
that the lands within the territory of New Netherland were much better and more fertile than 
those in New England ; and perceiving, at the same time, that they lay mostly vacant and were 
taken possession of merely by setting up arms and a fort here and there, took occasion in 
consequence to creep gradually nearer to us, and first fo come around Staten hook or Cape 
Cod, through Rhode Island, afterwards to occupy the Fresh river, and finally the Red Mountain 1 
or New Haven, with the adjacent places and villages; but they were never peaceable 
possessors, and it was always admitted that the boundary must be determined, and that this 
must be by superior authority ; as is to be seen in the last instruction given conjointly to the 
Director and Council. 

Now, the case is, that the Director went to the General Court of New England on the 17 lh 
September, in the year tt550, and treated there with deputies from the Provinces respecting 
the boundary, and finally the arbitrators mutually made and came to a decision and award, 
subject to their High Mightinesses' ratification ; but we have no precise copy of it, as it still 
remains with the Board of Directors. 

All the arbitrators were English and friends of the English; and in this affair they pulled 
the wool over the Director's eyes; for, according to our information from New Netherland, 
he hath ceded to the English as far as Greenwich, inclusive, on the Main, together with a 
portion of Long Island. Now, New Holland, or Staten hook, called by the English Cape Cod, 
and Greenwich are sixty leagues apart, and include many fine bays, kills, rivers and islands, 
namely, Stamfort, Straeftbrd, the Red Mountain, Totolet, Gilfort, Kieft's hoeck and the beautiful 
Fresh river, where full fifty Colonies or more might be planted ; also the river Pequatoos and 
divers fine islands, bays, kills and places ; if the tenor of the Exemption be adhered to, which 
prescribes four leagues along a navigable creek, bay or river, and so far landward in as 
circumstances admit, it can be seen by the map that the ceded territory will admit, not of 
fifty, but of a much greater number of Colonies. Long Island, which is included, hath full two 
hundred leagues of navigable coast, not in one continuous stretch, but calculating the bays, 
rivers and shores, as can easily be demonstrated to your Mightinesses on the map. 'Tis, 
indeed, true that this country was occupied by the English in part, but not the whole of it; 
the whole of it, then, ought not to be theirs; not that we would deprive people of what 
belongs to them, but the sovereignty ought to remain with this State; at least of the whole 
of Long Island, and so northerly along Sequins river. We should thus, retain something, and 
also leave something to the English ; for 'tis full thirty leagues from the latter river unto 

1 North of New Haven are two Mountains, now called East and West Rocks, consisting of trap, hornblende and feldspar- 
Iron enters considerably into their composition ; consequently, during their decomposition, iron rust gradually covers the 
exterior of the stone, thus giving it a reddish brown appearauce Barber's Historical Collections of Connecticut, 149. Hence 
'•IteJ Mountain," the significant and appropriate name which the Dutch gave New Haven. — Ed. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VI. 459 

Staeten hook. Were it so arranged, New Netherland could be thus bounded, and the trade 
remain as it is; otherwise the trade will suffer great damage, because the English will retain 
all the Wampum manufacturers to themselves and we shall be obliged to eat oats out of 
English hands. The couutry will, likewise, always lie open, exposed and common to 
the neighbors. 

This is briefly what is to be observed hereupon. I shall now annex hereunto the extracts 
and news in order that your High Mightinesses may see how the work has been managed. 

Extract from the copy of the Journal of the Select men in New Netherland, sent 
to Van der Donck. 

1650, 17 th September. The Director has gone to the North to negotiate with the English, 
according to his written communication to the Council, which was not followed by 
any resolution. 

12 th October. The Director, who was entertained with great pomp in New England, returned 
home last night. 

13 ,h ditto. The Director and Council met, and the Vice-Director requested a report 
of what had been done and transacted by the Director General in New England. His Honor 
postponed it until the arrival of Carel Verbruggen, when he should have it all translated 
from the English. He also said that nothing special had passed or occurred. 
NoTK—Baxter was November 3 d . Oleff Stevens conversing with George Baxter respecting the 

one of ihe arbitra- . . _., . . „ . . , , , ,, . . „ . 

to™. lreaty between the Director and the Lnghsn, understood from him, Baxter, that 

the Director hath surrendered Greenwich to the English, and the differences between the 
Director and the English were arranged by him and three other selected arbitrators. 

December 14 lh . Schelluyne conversing with Westerhuysen's wife regarding the confiscation 
of their ship the Slnte Beninio, or the Nieuiv Swol, she said: 'Tis easy to see what the result 
will be. My husband has a writing from the English Commissioners whereby Director 
Stuyvesant acknowledges that he never had, nor has at present, any pretensions to New Haven. 

14 th ditto. The Director and Council being assembled, the Vice-Director again demanded 
to be informed respecting the negotiations of the Director with the English ; who gave for 
answer that nothing special was transacted and that Mr. Schaep of Amsterdam who was going 
Ambassador to England, would treat there, by orders of the Lords Majors, touching the 
boundary between New England and New Netherland. 

Extract of the letter written by the Select men to Van der Donck, dated 2G ,h 
November, 1650. 

His Honor has been to the North with the English and there entered into a Treaty respecting 
the Boundary, &c, but keeps everything concealed from us and from his Council. We fear the 
news from New England, (a translation whereof is annexed,) which was secretly brought and 
thrown into a certain house here, is too true, inasmuch as 'tis confirmed by daily rumors. We 
at least hope and request that you will be particular in calling the attention of their High 
Mightinesses our Sovereigns thereto, whenever the Treaty between the Director and the 
English comes up for ratification. 



460 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Translation of News from New England, 1G50. 

The Governor of New Netherland has been received and treated like a Prince wherever he 
passed ; for which he expressed himself very grateful. On arriving at the Court of the New 
England Commissioners, he meant that the matters in dispute should be discussed and debated 
there ; wherefore his Honor submitted divers charges and grievances. He particularly asserted 
the Boundary to extend from Cape Cod to the Fresh River and so forth, and dwelt on the 
usurpation of territory, lands &c; but they answered him that they had not come to question 
or to be questioned; excusing themselves and declining his premises as they could not admit of 
such pretensions which, as far as they were concerned, were mere idle talk without proof. They 
finally drew and got him so far along by a sweet and right subtile line, in order, howbeit, to reach 
the matter itself, that they have mutually referred their differences about boundaries, &c, to four 
Arbitrators. The English chose their own people, and instead of Dutchmen the Governor of 
New Netherland named Mr. Willet and George Baxter, two Englishmen. The matter remaining 
under their consideration, and the English meanwhile, continuing to entertain and treat him 
like a Prince, knowing that he was pleased therewith, the decision of the Arbitrators finally 
followed, to wit: not only were the aforesaid Governor's pretensions declared null and of 
no avail, but the English limits are four leagues West of Greenwich, and are to include 
Greenwich ; the remainder is to constitute New Netherland. Thus East of the Manhattans, 
the limits of New Netherland will be about four leagues, and in addition to that, from 
Oysterbay east on Long Island, is to be New England, and west, New Netherland. The 
English lay claim to the South river against which the Dutch Governor warmly protested, but 
the English have answered that they should persist in, and retain possession of what they 
claim. In fine, it looks as if everything would shortly be English, for experience shows that 
the boundary line four leagues west of Greenwich encroaches as it goes into the interior of the 
country and that the English will in a short time be in the neighborhood of Fort Orange and 
the trade. The Dutch Governor is absolutely stripped of the Fresh river and New Haven, 
especially and particularly of New Haven, on which he declares he has not, nor ever had, any 
pretensions. And then his former various protests and menaces were read to him, and among 
the rest, his letter that the blood should be on their own heads, which he denied, saying: that 
such was an error of his Secretary. The English will not trouble him, at present, respecting 
the capture of Westenhuysen's ship which lay at New Haven and was confiscated by the Dutch 
Governor, as he has requested, and obtained from the English Commissioners, permission to 
pass and repass. But time will tell what circumstances will bring about on the next opportunity, 
for the Commissioners have given Westenhuysen a writing under their hand that the Dutch 
Governor has not, and never had any claim to New Haven. Moreover, at the meeting of the 
Colonies a firm alliance was entered into between both Nations, the English and the Dutch, to 
the effect that they shall help to defend each other, as good neighbors, against all enemies, and 
mutually entertain good correspondence and trade, the Indian trade excepted, which remains 
unchanged; also, the Dutch governor shall be at liberty to assist at the meetings of the 
Commissioners. The English declare that they have nothing to do with Rhode Island, therefore 
the Governor may seek satisfaction as best he can for the prize permitted there. When the 
four Arbitrators abovementioned had made their report, and it was brought to the ears of 
the Governor, he made a great complaint against his two chosen agents, crying out: I've been 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VI. 461 

betrayed; I've been betrayed! Which hearing, some of the English who were waiting outside, 
supposed that he had run mad, and were disposed to go and fetch people to tie him. It seems 
he never imagined that such hard pills would be given him to digest. New England is 
thoroughly united with the Dutch Governor to her satisfaction and is well content with him ; 
speaks of him in terms of great praise, especially because he is so liberal and hath allowed 
himself to be entrapped by her courtesy and hath conceded Greenwich. Valid, perfect copies, 
and verification of the whole have been made and the Governor with his two Commissioners 
hath subscribed the entire negotiation. But as regards the surrender of Greenwich and the 
other limits concluded upon, he hath voted and signed as Governor, subject, however, to 
the approbation of his Council, under promise to persuade them thereunto'as much as possible. 
Finally, 'tis resolved to send the aforesaid Treaty to the West India Company, the States 
and Parliament, in order that it may be ratified as early as possible. 

Extract of the Resolutions of New England, translated from the English. 

Know all men by these presents, that the ship St. Bcni/iio, commanded by Mr. Wilhelm 
Westerhuysen came to trade, and was about three years ago taken out of the harbor of New 
Haven, which is a part of New England, granted by patent from the King of England, received 
by the English and actually settled by them, and no part of New Netherland. So that on 
what pretence or by what order the abovementioned seizure was made, we the Commissioners 
of the United Colonies of New England leave to the consideration of each and every, before 
whom the matter may come in suit; the Governor of New Netherland acknowledging that 
such was not done under pretence of having a claim to that place. Dated at Hartford, the 
23 rd of September, 1650, Augustan style. (Signed) Edward Hopkins, president, Simon 
Brasster, 1 Will Halkorne, 2 Philpp : Prence, 3 John Prowne, 4 Ge. Haynes, Theoph : Etson, 5 
Stepsen Goodjeare, 6 

(Lower down was): — 

Agrees with the Original. 

Doughty. 

Some agreement was also to be entered into with the Swedes on the South river; but all 
the particulars thereof have not transpired. They remain in the West India Company's 
Chamber at Amsterdam. These Swedes, as the Remonstrance will show, are not lawfully in 
possession, but have merely purchased what they hold there, from some subjects of this State, 
who in our opinion could not alienate the supreme jurisdiction or sovereignty. Pro memoria. 

The above extracts and copies, as far as the transcripts are concerned, are, upon 
collation, found punctually and substantially to agree with the respective originals. 
xxi 8t April, 1052. Hague. 

Quod affirmo. 

(Signed) M. Beeckman, Not. Pub. 1052. 
1 Brewster. * Hawthorne. ' Thomas Prince. * Browne. ' Eaton. * Stephen Goodyear. — Ed. 



462 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

States General to the West India Company. 

[ From Ihe Register of Uitgegane Brieven of the States General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

To the respective Chambers of the West India Company. 

The States, etc. 

roiio40. Honorable, etc. Herewith goes copy of the Provisional Order of government 

Government in New in New Netherland, which we have resolved to transmit to you and the other 

Chambers of the West India Company, requesting and commanding that you 

and they shall transmit immediately your opinions thereon without fail, it being considered 

that the matter demands dispatch. Done 16 lh February, 1652. 



« .. » ■«-♦- 



Amsterdam Chamber of the West India Company to the States General. 

[ From the Register of Ingekomen Brieven of the States General, in the Royal Archives at Ihe Hague. ] 

High and Mighty Lords. 

We have duly received your High Mightinesses' despatch of the 16 th instant, with the 
annexed draft of the Provisional Order, respecting the government of New Netherland, and in 
compliance with your High Mightinesses' command sent us therewith, we cannot omit 
observing, that we have already communicated our opinion in writing on the aforesaid draft, 
on the 25 th May, 1650, and have conferred, at divers times since, with the Lords, your High 
Mightinesses' deputies, so that we concluded that your High Mightinesses had designed laying 
aside the unfounded complaints of the Delegates and ill-affected Committee of some 
malcontents in New Netherland, and we are at present surprised at a draft being now brought 
up, which for so long a time has been considered as disposed of. Your High Mightinesses will 
please not to take any action in the premises until fully informed of the circumstances of the 
case, which information cannot be furnished by any of the other Chambers, as the management 
of that district is referred and given up specially to us. Herewith ending, we pray God 
Almighty to be pleased to preserve your High Mightinesses in a prosperous government, 

and remain, 

High and Mighty Lords, 

Your High Mightinesses' humble servants, 

The Directors of the West India Company, Chamber at Amsterdam. 

Amsterdam, the 23 d February, 1652. (Signed) Johan le Thor, 

Received 24 th February, 1652. David van Baerle. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VI. 
Resolution of the States General on the preceding Letter. 

[ From the Register of "West India Affairs, 1652 — 1663, in the Royat Archives at the Hague. ] 

Friday 24 ,h February, 1652. 

Folio 6. Received a letter from the Directors of the West India Company, dated 

Chamber at Amsterdam, 23 d instant, in answer to their High Mightinesses' despatch of the 
oner »bout the 16 lb of same month, respecting the draft of the Provisional Order, relative to 

government of New , 

Netheriand. the government of New Netherland ; which being taken in consideration, it is 

resolved and concluded, that said letter shall be referred to Mess" Capelle tho Ryssel, and the 
other their High Mightinesses' deputies herebefore occupied in the affairs of New Netherland, 
to inspect and examine, to inquire what has been done heretofore thereon, and afterward to 
report on the subject. 



Dordrecht Chamber of the West India Company to the States General. 

[ From the Original in the Royal Archives at the Hague; Loketkas of the States General ; Division, West Inducht Compagnie, No. 86. ] 

High and Mighty Lords. 

We have duly received your High Mightinesses' despatch, dated the lG ,h of February, 
together with the Provisional Order respecting New Netherland thereunto annexed, whereupon, 
according to your High Mightinesses' instructions and command, we have drawn up our opinion 
in manner, as your High Mightinesses shall see noted in the margin; respectfully and humbly 
requesting your High Mightinesses to be pleased to persevere in matters so good and wholesome 
for the State, and especially to order that the committee proceeding further therein, may 
receive despatch by the Chambers whom it most concerns. Wherewith ending, 

We remain, High and Mighty Lords, 

Your High Mightinesses humble servants, 

The Directors of the West India Company at Dordrecht. 
Dordrecht, 2 March, 1652. (Signed) D. Hoeufft, 

Received 5 March, 1G52. Gerhardt Noey 



Observations of the Chamber at Dordrecht on the Provisional Order respecting Nexo 

Netherland. 

[ From the MS. in the Royal Archives at the Hague ; Loofcetkas of the States General ; Division, TT^ hidieche Grmpagme, No. 86. ] 

Whereas it is stated in the text thereof that their High Mightinesses did not grant the 
exclusive benefit of New Netherland to the Directors of the Chamber at Amsterdam, but to all 
the Partners of the West India Company dispersed throughout the Provinces, and that it cannot 



464 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

any longer be tolerated that such fertile countries should lie neglected in consequence of bad 
administration, which up to this time, has been exercised through Commissioners of New 
Netherland under the direction of the Amsterdam Chamber, the Directors of the Maase 
Chamber at Dordrecht therefore respectfully request their High Mightinesses to be pleased, 
respecting this and other important matters concerning the Company, to call together at 
the Hague a half-Nineteen for the purpose of there adopting, under their High Mightinesses' 
eyes and observation, some good and beneficial resolutions, and particularly, that it may 
be expressly enacted that all the Chambers shall from now henceforward be at liberty 
to trade to New Netherland, and to grant commissions to individuals to that effect, under such 
orders and regulations as shall be issued by their High Mightinesses. 

3. 

On the third point, where mention is made of the sale of contraband goods ; inasmuch as it 
cannot be put an end to suddenly and at once, they submit to their High Mightinesses whether 
instead of such articles being sold with the knowledge of the Council there, it were not best that 
the sale be made by the Council itself according to the circumstances of affairs and times, 
inasmuch as 'twill be clearly impossible to maintain individuals in such order as that they 
would not, without the knowledge of the Council, run the aforesaid merchandise, which is so 
much sought for. 

8. 

They submit to their High Mightinesses whether it were not better that the duty herein 
laid down be imposed in this country, and that a fixed regulation be made, not only for the 
goods sent hence thither and from that country here, but also for whatever may be conveyed 
thence to Brazil and other places. 

9. 

They request their High Mightinesses to be pleased to undertake it forthwith, so that those 
who are inclined to go thither may thereby be more encouraged. 

10. 
They submit to their High Mightinesses whether the Vice Director should not be appointed 
by their High Mightinesses and the Company, inasmuch as in case of the demise of the 
Director, the administration of all affairs would devolve provisionally on the Vice Director. 

13. 

They request their High Mightinesses in case of Director Stuyvesant's recall, that the 
administration should be meanwhile committed to a competent person, conversant with civil 
and military affairs. 

14. 

Although the Boundaries of New Netherland may, in virtue of first possession, be extended 
somewhat further, it will be highly necessary that they be at once settled as well as can 
be agreed upon with England, requesting that their High Mightinesses shall give such in 
command to their Ambassador, and in all cases to include therein Long Island which lies 
right opposite the Main. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VI. 465 

Resolution of the States General on the preceding Papers. 

[ From the Register of West India Affairs, 1652 — 1608, in the Royal Archives at [he Hague. ] 

Tuesday, 5 ,b March, 1652. 
Foiio 7. Received a letter from the Directors of the West India Compnny, Chamber at 

Dordrecht, dated at that place the 2? instant, containing an answer to their High Mightinesses' 
despatch of 16 th February last and, in conformity thereto, also their information and observations 
ivuisionai order oa the Provisional Order respecting New Netherland. Which being considered, 
Netheriand. jt jg reso | ve( j anf ] concluded that the aforesaid letter and documents shall be 
placed in the hands of Mess" Verbolth and the other their High Mightinesses' Deputies for the 
affairs of New Netherland, to look over, examine and report thereon. 



Chamber at Middelburg to the States General. 

[From the Original in the Royal Archives at the Hague; Loketkasof the States General; Division, West IndiscJie Compaynie,'Ho. 80.] 

High and Mighty Lords. 

In obedience to your High Mightinesses' order and despatch of the 16 lh February last 
requesting our suggestions on the part of the Zealand Chamber on the report of Mess™ 
Aertsbergen and other their High Mightinesses' Deputies on the Provisional Order in "New 
Netherland, we cannot express ourselves otherwise thereupon than to thank your High 
Mightinesses for the care you are pleased to take for the government, preservation and peopling 
of that district in New Netherland, lying within our common patent ; we gladly beheld 
all such good order and resolution introduced and applied thereto as your High Mightinesses 
really and effectively consider serviceable. Heretofore our Commissioners have submitted 
their particular suggestions on this matter to your High Mightinesses, to the effect for the most 
part substantially, that population and agriculture there may be encouraged by the granting of 
such Freedoms and Exemptions whereby every one, may be encouraged by the opportunity to 
transport themselves thither with their means, and in order that such persons may find occasion 
thereto in all the Provinces, let these concessions be drawn up on an impartial basis and granted 
by all the Chambers to such as may happen to present themselves, which we readily conclude 
and hope shall be so determined by your High Mightinesses, for we, being alike incorporated and 
interested, are of opinion under correction that such district of country lying within the limits 
of our Charter, ought not to be left exclusively to the Chamber of Amsterdam. 'Tis true, 
that Chamber hath heretofore repeatedly offered to admit us and other Chambers, but always 
with the Clause and Condition, that they should be reimbursed the expenses incurred since 
some years, well knowing that we stood in such position as to make it impossible for us to 
accept that; and therefore have they, to this date, monopolized that government, to the great 
prejudice of their High Mightinesses' design, the sole object whereof is the promotion of the 
population, as can be inferred from all the proceedings. In order then not to act contrary to 
the nature aud right of a company, to the partners whereof profit and loss ought to be in 
Vol. I. 59 



466 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

common, we are prepared, as we have always been, and even as it was determined in the last 
Assembly of the Nineteen held at Amsterdam, that men should liquidate and equalize among 
each other, wherein we shall gladly admit whatever claims of the Chamber of Amsterdam 
will be found just, expecting for this and other reasons that we shall be admitted by your 
High Mightinesses to the right which according to the Charter appertains to us. In regard to 
the other additional particulars regarding the reform of the government, etc., we shall willingly 
agree to whatever will be found most reasonable and most expedient, wherewith ending, we 
shall pray God to be pleased to bless your High Mightinesses' Government and 

We are 

Your High Mightinesses' 

Humble and faithful servants, 
The Directors of the West India Company, in Zealand. 
Middelburg, first of March, 1652. (Signed) D. Bante. 

Received 8 th March, 1652. Joh. Pelletier. 



Resolution of the States General on the preceding Letter. 

[From tho Register of West India Affairs, 1652 — 1663, in the Royal Archives at the Hague.] 

Friday, 8 ,h March, 1652. 
Folio 8. Received a letter from the Directors of the West Tndia Company, Chamber of 

Zealand, written at Middelburgh 1 st inst., containing the answer to their High Mightinesses' 
Provisional order despatch of the 16 th February last, relative to the Provisional Order of government 
£ramen? S in e §ew •" New Netherland. Which being considered, it is resolved and concluded that 
the aforesaid despatch shall be placed in the hands of Mess" Capelle tho Ryssel 
and other their High Mightinesses' Deputies, to look over, examine, and to determine what has 
already been done and to report thereon. 



Chamber at Delft to the States General. 

[ From the Original in the Royal Archives at the Hague ; Lokntkas of the States General; Division, West Indische Compagnle, No. 86. ] 

High and Mighty Lords. 

We duly received your High Mightinesses' despatch with a Provisional Order respecting the 
government, preservation and population of New Netherland, requiring our opinion and 
suggestions thereupon. We have been unwilling to neglect this, but on consultation together, 
find that this Provisional Order is the same that in the months of March and April of the year 
1650 was drawn up by Commissioners from all the Chambers of the West India Company in 
the presence of some Lords, your High Mightinesses' Deputies in the Hague, when we 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS : VI. 467 

conjointly delivered in our opinions and further communicated our thoughts and considerations 
to the Lords, your High Mightinesses' Committee in two separate memorials on the 30 th March 
and 2S lb May of the said year 1650, by Deputies of the Chambers of Zealand, Maase and 
North quarters, whereunto having nothing further to add at present, we shall again refer 
thereto ; and should your High Mightinesses conclude to resume and further inquire into 
these matters, when the deputies from all the Chambers appear again at the Hague, which 
will apparently be soon, we shall direct and instruct those of our Chamber of the Maase to 
arrange all things for the public advantage on the resolution of Your High Mightinesses, in 
order that so magnificent a country may not go to ruin by bad government and management. 
Remaining heiewith, 

High and Mighty Lords, 

Your High Mightinesses' most humble Servants, 
The Directors of the West India Company, Maase Chamber at Delft. 

(Signed) Joost van Lodensteyn, 1652. 
Delft, S lh March, 1652. N. ten Hove. 

Received 13 March. 



Resolution of the States General on the preceding Letter. 

[ From the Register of West India Affairs, 1652 — 1663, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Wednesday, 13 March, 1652. 
Folio 11. Received a letter from the Directors of the West India Company, Chamber of 

Provisional Order t ne Maase at Delft, dated the S th inst., in answer to their High Mightinesses' 
ernmell" 8 V New despatch of the February last relative to the Provisional Order respecting 

the Government, preservation and population of New Netherland. Which being 
considered, it is resolved and concluded that the aforesaid letter shall be placed in the hands 
of Mess" Huygens and other their High Mightinesses' Deputies for the affairs of the West 
India Company to look over, examine and to report thereon. 



Resolution of the States General. 

[ From the Register of the Resolutions of the States General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague.] 

Friday, 15 <h March, 1652. 

Folio 204. The Petition of Engeltje Wouters, widow of the late Hans Woutersse, draper and 

Engeitje wouters. burgeress at Amsterdam beingread.it is, upon deliberation resolved and concluded 
hereby to allow and to grant the Petitioner letters recommendatory to the Director and Council 
of New Netherland to dispatch the suit at law and business which she hath outstanding there 
against Eva Lucas, shopkeeper at Bruckel. 



468 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

2 he States General to the Director, &c, of New Netherland. 

[ From the Register of Uilgeqant Briemn. of the States General, in tho Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

To the Director and Regents of New Netherland. 

The States, etc. 
Foiio to. Honorable, etc. The representation and request to us of Engeltje Wouters, 

Engeitje wouters. w id ow f the late Hans Wouters, draper and burgeress at Amsterdam, your 
Honors will understand from the annexed petition, which we have resolved to transmit to you, 
and to charge and command you to let the petitioner receive good, quick, prompt and full 
justice and dispatch in the matter which she hath outstanding on and against Eva Lucas, late 
shopkeeper at Bruckel, and actually resident in New Netherland, which shall confer on her 
particular expedition, and on us pleasure, and therein fail not. Done 15 ,h March, 1652. 



Chamber at Groningen to the States General. 

[From the Original in the Royal Archives at the Hague; LokeUcaa of the States General; Division, West Indiaehe Omipagnie, No. 86.] 

High and Mighty Lords. 

Your High Mightinesses were pleased to send us, with a despatch of the 16 February last, 
copy of the Provisional Order of government in New Netherland, with a view to receive our 
opinions thereupon. 

We have been unwilling to be wanting therein, and answer: — Whereas the management of 

said New Netherland, with the places dependent thereon, has hitherto devolved on the 

Amsterdam Chamber, which consequently possesses the most reliable information thereof, we 

shall rely on, and defer to whatever representation said Amsterdam Chamber makes on the 

subject, without, however, in any way prejudicing our right, in order both to participate in 

the profits on liquidation, and even hereafter to fit out for, and trade to New Netherland. And 

without dwelling any longer hereupon, we commend your High Mightinesses to God's 

protection. 

Your High Mightinesses' Humble servants, 

The Directors of the West India Company, Chamber Stadt en Lande. 

(Signed) J. de Sighers, V. 
Dated Groningen, '-H^ 1652. 
Received 13 ,h April, 1652. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS : VI. 4(39 

Resolution of the States General on the preceding Letter. 

[ From Ihe Register of West India Affairs, 1652 — 1663, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Saturday, 13 April, 1652. 

Foiio n. Received a letter from the Directors of the West India Company, Chamber of 

Director, at Gro- Stadt en Landen, written at Groningen, 6 tb March last, being in answer to their 

High Mightinesses' despatch of the 16 ,h February last, requiring them to send 

opinion on the or- their opinion on the draft of a Provisional Order of government in New 

der of government ° 

inNewNetheriand. Netherland, wherein they submit and refer to whatever the Amsterdam Chamber, 
which hitherto had the management of New Netherland, should advise thereon, without 
prejudice, however, to their right both to participate in the profits, and hereafter to fit out for 
and trade to New Netherland. Which being considered, the aforesaid letter is accepted as 
notification and, saving said right, the opinions both of the Amsterdam Chamber and of the 
other Chambers of the West India Company, will be expected. 



•»•»■>. 



Resolution of the States General on a Petition of Messrs. Gahry. 

[ From the Register of West India Affairs, 1652 — 1663, in the Royal Archives at the Ilague. ] 

Foli " ,3 - Read the petitions presented to their High Mightinesses in the name and on the 

John and Charles o o 

Gabr y- behalf of John and Charles Gabry, merchants at Amsterdam, praying their High 

Mightinesses' favorable letters and recommendation to Petrus Stuyvesant, Director General in 
New Netherland, to lend a helping hand to the Petitioners or their attorneys, that they may 
receive from Augustin Herman, their factor in those parts, due account, proof and remainder 
of the goods which he hath had to dispose of from the Petitioners and their co-partners. 
Which being considered, it is resolved and concluded, that the aforesaid petitions shall be 
transmitted to the Director General abovenamed, with request and requisition to be aiding to 
the Petitioners, and to assist them in such manner and way as shall be proper, so that they 
may receive due satisfaction in all equity and good justice. 



States General to Director Stuyvesant. 

[ From the Register ol Cttgegane Brimen. of the States General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

To Peter Stuvesant, Director General, in New Netherland. 

The States, etc. 
Polio 95. Honorable, &c. You will be able to understand what John and Charles Gabry, 

John and Charles merchants at Amsterdam, have represented and requested, from their annexed 
petitions this day presented in our Assembly, which we have hereby resolved to 



470 NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

send you, requesting and requiring you to aid and assist the Petitioners in such wise as may 
be right, so that they may receive due contentment and satisfaction in all equity and good 
justice against Augustin Herman. Done 22 April, 1652. 



Resolution of the States General to grant Adriaen van der Donch Venia testandi. 

[ From the Register of West India Affairs, 1652 — 1663, in the Eoyal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Friday, 2G th April, 16-52. 

Foiio 19. Read in the Assembly the petition of Adriaen van der Donck of Breda, Patroon 

Adriaen van der of the Colonie of Neperhaem, called by him Cokendonck, situate in New 

1 'i'iii k. 

Netherland, requesting that he may be granted Venia testandi et disponendi, as 
heretofore granted unto Kiliaen van Renselaer in quality aforesaid. Which being considered, 
it is resolved and considered hereby to consent to the aforesaid petition, and such grant shall 
accordingly be issued for the behoof of the Petitioner. 



Patent empowering Adriaen van der Donck to dispose of his Colome by Will. 

I From the Acte-Buek of the States Genera!, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Patent granted to Adriaen van der Donck, Patroon of the Colonie Colendonck, 
situate in New Netherland, empowering him to dispose by will of said Fief 
of Colendonck. 

Folio 4oi. The States General of the United Netherlands. To all who shall see these 

presents or hear them read, Greeting : Be it known : That We, on the humble supplication of 
Adriaen van der Donck of Breda, Patroon of the Colonie Nepperhaem, by him called 
Colendonck, situate in New Netherland, within the limits of the General Incorporated West 
India Company of this country, and having carefully looked into the fifth article of the 
Freedoms granted by the Assembly of the Nineteen of said Company, to all those who shall 
plant Colonies in New Netherland aforesaid, have by these our letters unto him, the Petitioner, 
sovereignly given, granted, allowed and conferred, do give, grant, consent and confer, power 
to order, testate and dispose of his aforesaid Fief, called Colendonck, either by form of 
testament and last will, codicil before a notary and witnesses, superintendents and vassals 
where said property lies, or otherwise at his pleasure, for the profit of his children, if any he 
have, friends and kindred or others, strangers, according as it shall please and seem good to 
him, the aforesaid, his manorial estate to his children or other persons to give, transport or 
leave in whole or in part, thereupou to assign rents hereditary, or for life, or even to give any 
one the usufruct thereof, at his discretion and good pleasure. We have, moreover, given, and 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VI. 471 

do hereby give, the Petitioner permission, power and leave, his aforesaid testament and last 
will, that lie shall thus make or hath previously made, to alter, enlarge, diminish and revoke, 
by codicil or other arrangement of last will, whenever and at all times that he shall please; 
which testament, gilt and order thus made or to be made by the Petitioner, we now, for then, 
have confirmed and ratified, confirm and ratify by this our letter, and will that it be 
maintained and perfected, and be valid and of good effect forever; and that whomsoever the 
aforesaid Petitioner hath given the said manor or portion thereof, or assigned any rents or 
usufruct thereon to, shall use the same according to the laws, statutes and customs of the 
place in which they are situate, in the same manner and in all forms and ways, as if the said 
gifts or grants were made and executed before the General Company or other their agents, 
whom it may concern. Provided, that whomsoever the abovenamed Petitioner shall give, 
order or make over the aforesaid Fief to, whether man or woman, shall be bound, within a 
year and six weeks after the death of the aforesaid Petitioner, or his or her entrance into 
possession of the above described Fief, to do homage unto us and no one else, and pay the 
rights thereunto appertaining and belonging, all without fraud, guile or craft. Wherefore We 
do request and order those of the aforementioned General Incorporated West India Company 
to instruct and command the Governors or Commanders and Council, who now are, or shall 
hereafter be in New Netherland, and moreover all others whom it in anywise may concern, 
conjointly and each in particular, as it shall behoove him, that they maintain and perfect the 
testament, order and last will of the abovenamed Petitioner, as he shall have made, or yet 
shall make it, and as it now by Us is ratified and confirmed as aforesaid ; and whomsoever 
he, by his testament and last will hath given and granted the aforesaid Fief, or shall have 
made and assigned, or yet may make, give or assign any rents, or usufructs to, the same to 
cause and permit the quiet and peaceable use and enjoyment thereof, without causing or 
allowing him at any time to experience any let, hindrance or molestation therein to the 
contrary. Given under Our seal, paraph, and the signature of our Greffier in the Hague, 
the six and twentieth day of April, XVI C and fifty and two. 



Resolution of the States General, recalling Director Stuyvesant. 

[ Prom the Register of West India Affairs, 1652 — 1663, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Saturday, 27 lh April, 1652. 
Foiio 19. Upon consideration, it is resolved and concluded to write to Petrus Stuyvesant, 

Director Stuyvesant. r .... - , 

Recall. Director General in New Netherland, to repair hither on receipt of the despatch, 

in order to give their High Mightinesses circumstantial and pertinent information of the true 
and actual condition of the Country; also, of the boundary line between the English and 
Dutch there; extract of this, their High Mightinesses' resolution, shall be sent to the presiding 
Chamber of the West India Company at Amsterdam, for its information. 



472 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

States General to Director Stuyvesant. 

I From the Kegister of Uitgegane Brieven of the States General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

To Petrus Stuyvesant, Director General in New Netherland, 

The States, etc. 

Foiio 100. Honorable, etc. We have, in view of the public service, considered it necessary 

Kecaii. to require you, on sight hereof, to repair hither, in order to furnish us 

circumstantial and pertinent information, as to the true and actual condition of the country 
and affairs; also, of the boundary line between the English and Dutch there. Done 27 
April, 1652. 



States General to the Amsterdam Chamber of the West India Company. 

[ From the Register of Uitgegane Brieven of the States General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague- ] 

To the Chamber of the West India Company at Amsterdam. 

The States, etc. 
Foiio 101. Honorable, etc. You will be able to see what we have resolved respecting 

Director Pet™ tr, e return of Petrus Stuyvesant, Director General of New Netherland, in the 
stuyvesant accompanying extract of our resolutions, which we have thought proper to send 

you herewith, for your information. Done 27 April, 1652. 



Resolution of the States General on Jan van Burerfs petition. 

[ From the Begiitcr of Resolutions of the States General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Saturday, 27 ,h April, 1652. 

Foiio 346. Read in the Assembly the petition of Jan van Buren, chief of the fire 

department (brantmeestcr), of the Noble Mighty Lords, the States of Holland and Westfriesland, 
and Dirck van Schoonderwoort. Notary here in the Hague, respectively father-in-law and uncle 
Dirck van Schei- of Dirck van Schelluyne, Notary residing in New Netherland, complaining of the 

luyne. Notary in . 

Kew Netherland. Director and Council, who are obstructing the abovenamed Schelluyne in 
the exercise of his Notarial office, &c. Which being considered, it is resolved and concluded 
to write to the aforesaid Director and Council, to maintain the abovenamed Schelluyne in his 
aforesaid office and right. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VI. 473 

States General to Director Stuyvesant. 

[From the Register of Uiigegant Britten of the States General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

To Petrus Stuyvesant Director General, and to the Council of New Netherland. 

The States, etc. 

Foiioioo. Honorable, etc. Whereas we have heretofore qualified Dirck van Schelluyne 

to reside there as Notary, and are informed, that he experiences divers obstacles and difficulties 

Derek ran Schei- i a tae ex ercise of his said Notarial office. We have, therefore, resolved to hereby 

order and command that you maintain the abovenamed Schelluyne in his said 

office and right, its consequences and appurtenances. Done 27 April, 1652. 



Resolution of the States General. 

[From the Register of West India Affairs, 1652 —1663, in the Royal Archives at the Hague.] 

Saturday, 27 th April, 1652. 
Folio 19. Read in the Assembly the petition, presented to their High Mightinesses, of 

Martin Beekman as Attorney of Cornelis Melyn, Patroon on Staten Island in New Netherland 
Dareuor'" J st'u7vei containing a continuation of the complaints against Director Petrus Stuyvesant; 
anl " which being considered, it is resolved and concluded that said petition shall be 

referred to the Mess" Aersbergen and the other their High Mightinesses' deputies for the affairs 
of the West India Company, to examine and inspect the same and to report thereon. 



Memorial of Adriaen van der Donck. 

I From the Original in the Royal Archives at the Hague ; Loi-etkas of the States General ; Division, West Indisclit Oompagnie, No. 86.] 

Memorial for the Lord van Seraertsbergen and other their High Mightinesses' 
Deputies for the affairs of New Netherland. 

As the ships lie ready to sail in Texel and the Petitioner hath embarked all his goods 
and also divers people therein, he most humbly requests an open dismissal with the clause 
de non offtndendo, and that the Director and whosoever it might further concern, may allow 
the Petitioner again to hold peaceably the office of President of the Commonalty in New 
Amsterdam, which the Petitioner was filling at the date of his departure, as he.is not able, 
otherwise, to leave without direct contravention of your High Mightinesses' resolution of the 
14 th of March of this year, and he offers, should your High Mightinesses think proper, to appear 
again in person at the Hague next winter. 
Vol. I. 60 



474 NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

The Petitioner to this end, also, most humbly prays your High Mightinesses to write to the 
Commonalty of New Netherland, that the settlement of the boundary, population and 
reduction of duties shall be taken into early consideration by your High Mightinesses, 
wherefore they have resolved to recommend my return hither ; also that the Director, Council 
and Select men shall not practice evasion or delay respecting the incurred expenses and 
vacation during this delegation, which the Petitioner is obliged to demand as he has certain 
information that the Director intends anew, through him, by lack of pecuniary support, to 
crush the good and needful work for the Commonalty in New Netherland. 

Which doing. 
(Endorsed ) 

Memorial of Adriaen van der Donck, delegate from the 
Commonalty in New Netherland 13 May, 1652. 



Re-solution of the States General on the preceding Memorial. 

I From the Register of West India Affairs, 1652 — 1603, in the Royal Archives at the Hagne. ] 

Monday, 13 May, 1652. 
Foiio 20. Read in the Assembly the petition of Adr : van der Donck, Delegate from the 

Adr: van der Donck. Commonalty of New Netherland addressed to Mr. van Aersbergen and other their 
High Mightinesses' Deputies, praying, substantially, that as the ships lie ready to sail in Texel 
and he, the Petitioner hath embarked therein all his goods and also divers people, he may be 
granted an open dismissal with the clause de non offendendo, and that the Director and those 
whom it may further concern, be ordered to allow the Petitioner peaceably to hold the office 
of President of the Commonalty of New Amsterdam, which the Petitioner was filling when he 
took his departure; the Petitioner not being able, otherwise, to leave without directly 
contravening their High Mightinesses' resolution of the 14 ,b of March ; further offering, should 
their High Mightinesses think proper, to appear again in person here at the Hague next winter. 
Secondly, the Petitioner most humbly prays also, to this end, that their High Mightinesses may 
write to the Commonalty in New Netherland that the settlement of the boundary, the population 
and reduction of duties shall be taken into early consideration by their High Mightinesses, 
wherefore they have resolved to recommend his, the Petitioner's return here ; that, also, the 
Director, Council and Select men shall not practice evasion or delay respecting the incurred 
expenses and fees during this delegation, which the Petitioner is obliged to demand, as 
he has certain information that the Director intends anew, through him, by lack of pecuniary 
support, to crush the good and needful work for the Commonalty in New Netherland. Which 
being considered, the Lords of Holland have taken the matter aforesaid into their hands to be 
more fully communicated to their constituents. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VI. 475 

Secret Resolutions of the States General on the Negotiation with England. 

[ From the Register of Secret Resolutions of the States General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Monday, 13 May, 1652. 
Foiio 59. The written considerations on the answers returned by the Council of State 

England. in England to their High Mightinesses' Extraordinary Ambassador at present 

considerations on there, on the Thirty-six Articles in question, which were to serve as a basis of a 

the 86 Articles. 

Treaty to be concluded between the Republic of England aforesaid and this 
State, being again brought up in the Assembly ; it is, after deliberation, resolved and 
concluded, hereby to draw up the aforesaid considerations in manner and form as is hereinafter 
inserted, word for word. 

Mess" the Ambassadors shall be careful, &c. 
Folio 60. They shall make use of all imaginable reasons and arguments to the end 

that the contents of the eleventh Article may be obtained. At the same time the settlement 
of the Boundary mentioned in the twelfth Article shall be postponed until a more 
favorable opportunity. 

Tuesday, 14 May, 1652. 
Folio 6s. On resuming the written considerations drawn up yesterday by their High 

Mightinesses on the answers returned by the Council of State in England to Mess" their 
Ambassadors in High Mighti nesses' Ambassadors Extraordinary at present there, on the Thirty-six 
Articles in question which were to serve as a basis of the Treaty to be concluded 
between the Republic of England aforesaid and this State, it is resolved and concluded, that 
Further instruction, a further Instruction shall be sent, by Mr. Willem van Nieupoort, who is going to 
England with a commission from their High Mightinesses', to the said Ambassadors 
Extraordinary, to aid them as to the contents of the eleventh Article of the Points delivered by 
their Excellencies to the government there, in order to be employed and made use of, whenever 
they should happen to perceive that the aforesaid eleventh Article cannot, to all appearance, 
be obtained, as if said instruction were inserted in the aforesaid written considerations after 
the abovementioned eleventh Article; whereunto their Excellencies are hereby empowered 
and authorized. 



Resolution of the States General revoking the Recall of Director Stuyvesant, 

[ From the Register of West India Affairs, 1652 — 1663, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Thursday, 16 May, 1652. 

F0H021. Upon deliberation, it is resolved and concluded that the Letter of Recall 

Letter to ih» nir.>c- written on the 2? ,b April last, to Director Stuyvesant, in New Netherland, and 

tor Sluyveaan! re- 

TO|Jed - already issued, shall be revoked and retained, until the matter be maturely 

examined by the previous Lords Deputies, when their High Mightinesses, after report being 
received, shall make further disposition herein; and Adriaen van der Donck is hereby ordered 
and commanded to restore the aforesaid letter. 



476 NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Petition of Adriaen van der Donch to the States General. 

[ From tbe MS. in the Royal Archives at the Hague ; Loketkaa of the States General ; Division, West IndUche Compagnie, No. 86. ] 

To the High and Mighty Lords, my Lords the States General of the United Netherlands. 

High and Mighty Lords. 

Adriaen van der Donck, Delegate of the Commonalty in New Netherland, respectfully 
represents, that he, the Petitioner, has been for over two years and a half continuously in this 
country in quality of Delegate from the Commonalty in New Netherland, of the Manhattans 
or New Amsterdam, Amersfort, Breukelen and Pavonia, the Delegates being first three in 
number, whereof two, namely Jacob van Couwenhoven and Jan Everts Bout, were discharged 
by your High Mightinesses on the first of April, 1650, so that the Petitioner alone hath 
remained here in commission. 

And first, namely, on the 27 lh of January, 1650, and 16" 1 and lS lh , and principally on the 
26 lb February of said year, they, the Delegates, at the Hon ble Directors at the Chamber at 
Amsterdam, in presence and before your High Mightinesses' Commissioners, being severely 
reproached by the Hon blc Directors who were unwilling to acknowledge their commission or 
constituents (committcnten), delivered to your High Mightinesses' Commissioners for the affairs 
of New Netherland, copy of their commission and of the commission of their constituents 
(committenten), which, notwithstanding said opposition of the Directors was, afterwards, on the 
ll ,h April, confirmed by order of your High Mightinesses, as is to be seen by the annexed 
paper No. 1. The Select men, their constituents, were, however, afterwards on a sudden, very 
unhandsomely dissolved by the Director, contrary to your High Mightinesses' order of the ll ,h 
of April and contrary to their own right and privilege of nomination, after they had, on 
foreseeing the occurrence from afar, by complaint and letter made known and forewarned your 
High Mightinesses of what was to happen, according to the Director's expressed words 
and threats. 

And as the Petitioner's own affairs in New Netherland are going fast to ruin, and the 
common Redress is here by divers means kept back, the Petitioner repeatedly besought your 
High Mightinesses, most humbly, to dismiss him, principally in his petition of the tenth of 
March, and now lately, he proposing from day to day to depart, by your High Mightinesses' 
consent, with his wife, mother, sister, brother, servants, maids, and in that design had packed 
and shipped all his implements and goods. Whereupon the Petitioner proceeded to Amsterdam 
to arrange his other affairs at that place ; but he understood here, before he left, that the 
Hon ble Directors of Amsterdam had forbidden all the skippers to receive him, the Petitioner, 
or his, even though exhibiting your High Mightinesses' express orders and consent. All which 
came, at the last moment, most strangely and unexpectedly on the Petitioner, as he was not 
aware that he had given any cause therefor. 

He consequently resolved to speak to the Directors privately and also at the Assembly, under 
the impression that this arose from some misunderstanding or other, and that the affair would 
go well notwithstanding; making use, with this view, of influential friends at Amsterdam to 
facilitate matters as much as possihle, which at first had the appearance of a happy result, as 
Mie Petitioner took great trouble and pains ; yea, to such a degree, that the Directors themselves 
acknowledged nothing more could he expected of an honorable man. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VI. 477 

But the Petitioner afterwards found the dispositions of the Directors much estranged, when 
they learned that the Petitioner's dismissal stuck here on reconsideration, and they became 
inclined to dispute with him — 

First. The Petitioner's commission and his constituents' legitimacy, which they at once 
wholly rejected ; saying they were a lawless and mutinons rabble, whereof he, the Petitioner, 
was one of the most notorious ringleaders, representing himself as Delegate of the Commonalty, 
and their late president; that, therefore, they, the Directors, did not mean, but were even 
unwilling that he should depart ; also, that the matter now rested no longer with them, 
but in the hands of the Lords Burgomasters of Amsterdam, without whose order and advice 
they were not doing anything; that the resolution to recall the Director, was the Petitioner's 
underhand work ; and much more of a like nature, too voluminous to relate. 

Moreover, that they, the Delegates from New Netherland, had very improperly applied to 
the States General ; that people must come only to them — meaning thereby the Amsterdam 
Chamber — that their High Mightinesses had not the least authority over New Netherland ; 
that they could do nothing therein, as it depended alone on the Chamber at Amsterdam ; that 
their High Mightinesses' safeguards or letters demissory, were of no avail ; that even had he 
such letters or safeguard, the Directors would not allow him, the Petitioner, to go, or to remain 
unmolested ; that such letters were of no value in New Netherland, but, on the contrary, 
whoever went thither so armed, should be prosecuted more rigorously than others, in case of 
any complaint against him. 

All which the Petitioner answered according to circumstances and his imperfect knowledge, 
but nevertheless without being more successful. Nor could he obtain any permission to leave 
with his wife, mother, sister, brother, servants and other members of his family, 
notwithstanding every effort was made, and the Petitioner clearly and plainly showed that it 
absolutely involved his ruin, and proposed and offered everything that could in any way be 
required for the Directors' satisfaction, in order that he might depart with his dear and valued 
pledges and friends, who encouraged by him to emigrate, had, with that intent, also sold and 
parted with their real estate, worth thousands of guilders, for less than its value ; but no 
attention was paid, no matter how plain, clear and submissive were his remonstrances, and 
no matter what offers he made. 

But the Petitioner without any debate or any knowledge of his adversaries, contrary to what 
appears to be his right, must, without any form of procedure or anything resembling thereto, 
remain separated from his wife, mother, sister, brother, servants, maids, family connections, 
from two good friends, from his merchandise, his own necessary goods, furniture and also from 
his real estate in New Netherland. The Petitioner cannot designate this proceeding other 
than an extraordinary or civil banishment, invested with no other justification or formality 
so far as he knows, than — Such is our pleasure and in this case we are our own masters; 
herein we have no superior according to the Chnrter granted to us. 

Wherefore the Petitioner wholly disheartened and cast down, as Delegate of the 
Commonalty of Nkw Netherland and also as a native freeman of this country, whose mother's 
father by the capture of the city of Breda with the turf-boat, whereof he was exporter and 
part owner, participated in the acquired freedom, addresses himself to your High Mightinesses, 
and most respectfully prays that your High Mightinesses may be pleased again to approve 
the Petitioner's commission nnd the legality of his constituents, as heretofore by your High 
Mightinesses' order of the 1 l lh April, 1G50, hereunto annexed, and to grant certificate of the 
same, or to revoke or annul it. 



478 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Secondly. That your High Mightinesses would be pleased to declare at the same time whether 
the Petitioners, as Delegates and inhabitants of New Netherland, which is a conquest of the 
Company in general, as your Petitioners are informed, have improperly applied to your High 
Mightinesses, after, however, the same Commonalty had, some years ago, presented to the 
Directors their complaints respecting the bloody War authorized by Director Kieft, and other 
excesses in the government there, without experiencing any benefit thereby, except that on the 
coming to that country of the present Director, the Eight men, who had made the complaints, 
authoritate publicd, were separately put in prison, locked up, banished or hunted and utterly 
terrified, which all at present in New Netherland have seen with their eyes and can exhibit 
affidavits thereof. 

In order, should they have improperly or illegally applied to your High Mightinesses, and 

their Commission and the legality of the constituency have been found to be, or yet is, null, 

that they, the Petitioners may change their course and address in time and, if possible, arrest 

and prevent their utter ruin. 

Which doing, 

( Signed ) Adriaen van der Donck. 



Resolution of the States General on the Petition of Adriaen van der Donck. 

[From the Register of West Imlia Affairs, 1652 — 166-3, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Friday, 24 ,b May, 1652. 
Folio 22. Read at the Assembly the Petition of Adriaen van der Donck, Delegate of the 

Adriaen ran der . . . . 

Donck. Commonalty in PSew iNetnerland, containing divers points. Which being 

considered, the Provinces have requested copy of said Petition, which is hereby granted, and 
saving this, it is resolved and concluded that copy of the aforesaid petition shall be sent to 
the respective Chambers of the West India Company for their information. 



States General to the West India Company. 

[ From the Register of Cttgegane Britren of the States General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

To all the Chambers of the West India Company of these countries. 

The States, etc. 
FoMo lai. Honorable, etc. By the accompanying copy of the petition of Adriaen van 

Donck" **" d " d er Donck, Delegate of the Commonalty in New Netherland, presented to us this 
day, you will perceive what he has represented to, and requested of us, earnestly 
requesting and no less requiring you with all speed to inform us thereupon. 
Done 24 th May, 1652. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VI. 479 

Chamber at Amsterdam to the States General. 

[ From the Original in the Royal Archives at the Hague ; Lokelka* of the States General ; Division, Wat Indische CompaQnU, No. 36. ] 

High and Mighty Lords. 

Our Deputies who lately returned from the Hague, have communicated to us, among other 

matters, your High Mightinesses' resolution of the 16 ,h instant, whereby it was resolved and 

concluded that the letter of recall written on the 27 lh April last to Director Stuyvesant, 

and already issued, shall be revoked and retained until the matter, being thoroughly examined 

by the Deputies abovementioned, shall then be disposed of by your High Mightinesses, after 

report thereupon shall have been received; inasmuch as your High Mightinesses have by said 

resolution prevented the disorders and confusion which by such recall of the Director were 

encouraged to break out and rise in New Netherland, we cannot neglect most humbly to thank 

your High Mightinesses therefor, and by this occasion further to request that we may have the 

honor to be heard betimes, before such Deputies as shall examine the matters aforesaid ; 

trusting that we shall give them such satisfaction respecting the division of the Boundary and 

all other points that will be proposed to us, as to obviate the necessity of recalling the Director 

aforesaid. Whereupon awaiting your High Mightinesses' order, we shall here terminate, and 

pray God Almighty for lasting prosperity of your High Mightinesses' happy government; 

remaining 

High and Mighty Lords, 

Your High Mightinesses' humble servants, 

The Directors of the West India Company at Amsterdam. 

Amsterdam, the 27 May, 1652. (Signed) Isaack van Beeck. 

Received 2S May. Ferdinand Schulenborch. 



Resolution of the States General on the preceding Letter. 

[From the Register of West India Affairs, 1652 — 1563, in the Royal Archives at the Hague.] 

Tuesday, 2S ,h May, 1652. 
Folio 23. Received a letter from the Directors of the West India Company, Chamber of 

Amsterdam, dated 27 ,h instant, praying in substance to be heard betimes whenever the subject 
Director 8w ve- of Mr. Stuy vesant in New Netherland shall be examined by their High Mightinesses' 
" nu Deputies for the affairs of the West India Company; which being considered, 

it is resolved and concluded, that the aforesaid letter shall be placed in the hands of the said 
Lords, their High Mightinesses in order to pay due attention thereto in the examination 
and investigation of the matters aforesaid, and to notify the said Directors of the time the 
investigation shall take place, to hear them on the whole and report thereupon as soon 
as possible. 



480 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Resolution of the States General on the death of Samuel Blommaert. 

[ From the Register of West India Affairs, 1652 — 1663, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Thursday, 20 June, 1652. 
roiio 24. Received a letter, written at Amsterdam the lS th instant by Abraham de Deckere, 

deceased. ° ram junior, filling the office at present of Accountant General of the West India 
Company in the place of Samuel Blommaert recently deceased, and two accounts therewith etc. 



Resolution of the States General on a Letter from the Chamber at Amsterdam. 

[From the Register of We6t India Affairs, 1652— 1663, in the Royal Archives at the Hague.] 

Saturday, 22 June, 1652. 

Foiio2G. Received a letter from the Directors of the West India Company, Chamber at 

west India cham- Amsterdam, written there on the 21 st instant, with some documents annexed, in 

ber at Amsterdam. angwer t0 their jjigh Migh tinesses' letter of the 2<i ,h May last, 1 and consequently 

information on the petition the same day presented to their High Mightinesses, in the name 

. and on the behalf of Adriaen van der Donck, styling himself Delegate of the 

Adriaeu van der ' j a o 

uonck. Commonalty in New Netherland. Which, being considered, it is resolved and 

concluded, that the aforesaid letter and documents be placed in the hands of Mess" Huygens 
and the other, their High Mightinesses' Deputies, for the affairs of the West India Company, 
to examine, look over, and to report thereon. Such is the aforesaid conclusion formed by Mr. 
van der Hoolk, in his capacity of president last week. 



Chamber at Dort to the States General. 

[ From the Original in the Royal Archives at the Hague ; Loketkas of the States General ; Division, West Indiache Compagnie, No. 86. ] 

High and Mighty Lords. 

Your High Mightinesses' letter dated 24 ,h May, duly reached us with the petition of Adriaen 
van der Donck inclosed, whereon your High Mightinesses require our advice upon that petition. 
We respectfully answer thereunto — inasmuch as the acquired country of New Netherland has 
been heretofore administered by the Chamber of Amsterdam, we have very little knowledge 
of it and of the situation of the people there; therefore, cannot form any correct opinion of 
the legality or illegality of the commission or person of the aforesaid Adriaen van der Donck, 
which we judge can be most properly done by your High Mightinesses' Commissioners 
appointed for the affairs of New Netherland, who from time to time have taken thorough 

' Supra, p. 418. — Ed. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VI. 481 

information on the matter aforesaid. However, we cannot perceive wherefore the aforesaid 
Van der Donck should be forbid to leave for New Netherland with his wife, mother and entire 
family, nor why his application to your High Mightinesses was improper, inasmuch as your 
High Mightinesses, iu ratifying the Charter, have retained and reserved the chief authority 
to yourselves. Wherewith ending, we remain, 
Your High Mightinesses' 

Humble servants, 
The Directors of the West India Company, Maase Chamber at Dort. 
(Signed) Gerhardt Noey. 
A. Halewyn. 
Received 24 June, 1652. Anthonie Repelaer Huygens 



Resolution of the States General on the preceding Letter. 

[ From the Register of West India Affairs, 1652 — 1683, in '.he Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Monday, 24 th June, 1052. 
roiio 26. Received a letter from the Directors of the West India Company, Chamber on 

West India Cham- * J 

ber at Dordrecht, the Maase at Dordrecht, being in answer to their High Mightinesses' despatch of 
the 24 th May last, and opinion on the petition presented to their High Mightinesses on 
the same day, in the name and on the behalf of Adriaen van der Douck, delegate from the 
Commonalty in New Netherland: Which being considered, the Lords of Holland have 
requested copy of the aforesaid letter, which was hereby granted. 



Secret Resolution of the States General on the commencement of War with England. 

[ From the Register of the Secret Resolutions of the States General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Wednesday, 17 July, 1652. 
Folio 23. After deliberation it is resolved and concluded that whenever the frigate shall 

Notice of English be got ready by the Board of Admiralty in Zealand, she shall be sent to the 

hostilities for the ° J J 

a ^d 8t New a Nelhe < r- Caribbean Islands, there to give notice according and agreeably to their High 
land - Mightinesses' previous resolution, which being done, the frigate shall proceed to 

New Netherland, to give similar notice there. 



Vol. I. 61 



482 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Secret Resolutions of the States General on the opening of the War xoith England. 

[ From the Register of the Secret Resolution of the States General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Wednesday, 17 ,h July, 1652. 
Folios. Upon consideration it is resolved and concluded that Commander Cats shall 

m«S«roJn. m " be written to, informing him that reliable advice has been received here that 
hsh Smyrna "nee" 6 " some richly laden English ships from Smyrna are proceeding to Leghorn, where 
they await other similar vessels, also, as is reported, some convoy, and that, therefore, he 
the Commander shall keep a watchful eye on them, and consequently repair to and remain 
at such place as he shall consider best adapted for the capture of the aforesaid English ships ; 
and on meeting, act towards them according to the directions in the Instruction sent him 
heretofore and again in duplicate and triplicate, to be annexed to the despatches to be then 
written, and according as soldiership and seamanship shall demand ; with this understanding 
that the despatch arising herefrom shall be sent off both by express and by the ordinary post. 

Monday, 22 July, 1652. 
Foii«26. After deliberation it is resolved and concluded hereby to request Mess" 

awrtT"))?" Brazil" Huygens and other their High Mightinesses' Deputies for the affairs of the West 

Ouiura. New Ne- r .. _ ., .. • i i fa- 

therland. India Company, to consider at the earliest moment with the Directors ot that 

Company who may be here and convenient, how the Coasts of Brazil, Guinea and New 

Netherland shall be best preserved, and the English about those parts annoyed. 



Secret Resolution of the States General that none hut trustworthy Pet-sons be employed 

in New Netherland. 

[ From the Register of the Secret Resolutions of the States General, in the Royal Archives at the Uagne. ] 

Monday, 22 July, 1652. 

Foiio 26. After deliberation, it is resolved and concluded that Peter Stuyvesant, Director 

reter stuyvesant. of New Netherland be instructed to take good care, and keep a watchful eye in 
the present rupture between this State and England, that no person be employed either in the 
and ib New Nether' P°'' , ' ca l government or Militia in that counlry, except those whose fidelity and 
affection to this State can be fully relied on. And the despatch to be written 
shall, without reconsideration, be sent to the Board of Admiralty in Zealand, to be transmitted 
by the frigate destined for the Caribbean Islands and New Netherland aforesaid. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VI. 483 

States General to Director Stuyvesant. 

[ From the Register of litgeyane Uneven of the States General, in tbe Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

To P. Stuyvesant, Director General in New Netlierland. 

The States, etc. 
Folio 210. Honorable, etc. In this present rupture between this State and England, we 

have resolved hereby to write to you and to charge and order you to take good care and keep 
a watchful eye so that no persons be employed either in the political government or Militia 
of that country except those whose fidelity and affection for this State may be fully relied on. 
Done 22 July, 1G52. 



Secret Memoir of the West India Company respecting Brazil and JVew Ndherland. 

[ From the Original in the Royal Archives at the Ilague ; RerreUkaa of the States Genera! ; Division, West Indische Oompagtiie, No. 8. ] 

To the Honorable Mighty Lords, the Deputies of the High and Mighty Lords States 
General for West India Affairs. 

Honorable and Mighty Lords ! 

The undersigned Directors of the Incorporated West India Company having communication 
of the extract of their High Mightinesses' resolution hereunto annexed, have in their affliction 
learned with some joy from its tenor, that the deliberations of the Government in these critical 
times have been extended over the utterly wretched affairs of said Company; and as they 
assume it as a token of their High Mightinesses' good inclination, so they hope and pray that 
it may be so far continued that such effects may follow the aforesaid deliberation as both the 
intention of the State and the constitution of the aforesaid Company demand. 

And here, in order to obey your Honorable Mightinesses' command and to make some 
suggestions thereon introductory to the needful deliberation, the aforesaid Directors shall 
observe the order prescribed by said Resolution. 

Brazil hath no communication with those of England except that the Portuguese, when 
occasion presents, are accustomed to charter some of their ships. Therefore no injury can be 
done there by the English, and consequently 'twould be unnecessary to make any reflection on 
the abovementioned district in connection with them, unless the Directors anticipated another 
difficulty, which on this occasion cannot be omitted. It consists in this, that the Company is 
very apprehensive of the important deliberations in which the respective Provinces are now 
engaged ; and is therefore of opinion that it will not be convenient for their High Mightinesses, 
who have their hands full of work at home, to take any order principally on the restoration of 
Brazil. Nevertheless, whilst, on the other hand, it appears very necessary, not only on 
account of the evident danger to which the conquest is exposed, but also in regard that some 
Provinces are disinclined to continue in the provisional superintendence to which hitherto 
they attended, therefore the aforesaid Directors are uncertain how to proceed in such case, 



484 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

being under the necessity of asking, only that it may be considered and determined either one 
way or the other. And, accordingly, in case the settlement of the chief point is not probable, 
then that order at least be taken, whilst waiting for more favorable opportunity, provisionally 
to preserve and secure the coast, so that the stores which must be sent successively hence, 
may arrive in safety there. The Portuguese ships which come from Cape St. Augustine or 
other adjacent places to the Reciffe and, whilst it is unprotected by any of our marine, capture 
the aforesaid vessels arriving with provisions and other supplies, effectually blockade, both by 
water and by land, that port, which necessarily must fall into the hands of the enemy, to his 
exceeding great joy and to the irreparable damage and dishonor of this country. To prevent 
this, a trifling aid of eight or ten ships of war, with some small craft, is required. Otherwise, 
the coast, which is at present destitute of all naval force, is wholly and utterly abandoned 
to the mercy and pleasure of the Portuguese. 

In like manner, that their High Mightinesses would please to provide money for the 
payment of the 2S00 soldiers in service there, so that they may not become dissatisfied on 
account of the want of their pay, and desert as many have already done, and the Reciff and 
other places belonging to the country experience great annoyance, damage and ruin by means 
of the deserters. 

In regard to the Coast of Africa, wherein Guinea comes specially under consideration; the 
Castle of Elmina and the other fortresses of the Company are thought to be sufficient for 
their own defence ; and the English thereabout can be somewhat annoyed by the privateers 
of this country, to whom commissions will be granted for that purpose, pursuant to their 
High Mightinesses' resolution of the lS ,h instant, according to a regulation prepared by the 
respective Chambers. 

New Netherland is the only place from whence the English in various parts, and especially 
in the Caribbean Islands, can be attacked. For this purpose, should the Government be 
agreeable, 5 or 6 ordinary, but well manned, frigates could be employed, the expenses 
whereof could doubtless be easily defrayed out of the property taken as prizes. But in case 
the Commonwealth be no wise disposed thereunto, the matter must be kept a profound 
secret; otherwise, the English in those parts, being very strong, must not be troubled, but 
those of the Company remain altogether on their guard. 

Thus handed in and delivered on the 30 ,h July, 1G52, pursuant to the Command of the 

Honorable Mighty Lords Deputies. 

(Signed) Johan le Thor. 

ISAACK VAN BEECK. 

N. Ten Hove. 



-♦-■ » n» 



Secret Resolution of the States General on the preceding Memoir. 

[ From the Register of the Secret Resolutions of the States General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague.] 

Wednesday, 31 July, 1G52. 
i-oiio 85. Heard the report of Mess" Huygens and the other their High Mightinesses' 

Deputies for the affairs of the West India Company, pursuant to the resolution of the 22 d 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VI. 485 

piny. Indla Com " instant, the attending Directors of the West India Company being, also, conferring 
Guinea, on the preservation of the coasts of Brasil, Guinea, and New Netherland, and 

how to annoy the English thereabouts; and a certain opinion of the Directors 
to that effect, was submitted in writing to the Assembly. Which being considered, the 
Provinces have requested copy thereof, and such is hereby granted. 



Petition of Adriaen van der Donck to the States General. 

[ From a MS. in the Royal Archives at the Hague ; Loketkan of the States General ; Division, WeM Indie, No. 86.] 

To the High and Mighty Lords States General of the United Netherlands. 

Adriaen van der Donck, Delegate of the Commonalty of New Netherland, humbly showeth, 
that he, the Petitioner, was, to his great damage and regret, when on the point of departing to 
New Netherland, on the 16 lh May, 1C52, detained by the Directors of the Amsterdam Chamber, 
as he, the Petitioner, on the 25 <h May following, submitted at length to your High Mightinesses, 
with the knowledge of the Directors ; which remonstrance was communicated to all the 
Provinces, and copy of it sent to the respective Chambers for information thereon, as well as 
to the Chamber of Amsterdam, which seems to claim the affairs of New Netherland as its 
exclusive right, and sent its answer to your High Mightinesses on the 22 d June, whereunto he 
was referred, without any further postil, when he again solicited permission to depart. 
Wherefore, he, as Delegate, respectfully applies to your High Mightinesses, humbly praying 
that, pursuant to your High Mightinesses' resolution, dated the 16 lh March of this year, the 
Commissioners over the affairs of New Netherland, whom your Migh Mightinesses have 
been pleased to appoint thereunto, may proceed to business, make a report, and take into 
consideration the Petitioner's dismissal, then and heretofore also frequently requested. 
Which doing, 

(Signed) Adriaen van der Donck. 
(Endorsed ) 

Petition of Adriaen van der Donck, Delegate from 
New Netherland. Exhibited 5 August, 1G52. 



Resolution of the States General on the preceding Petition. 

I From the Register of TVest India Affairs, 1652 — 1663, in the Eoyal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Monday, 5 August, 1652. 
Foiio si. Read at the Assembly, the further petition of Adr" van der Donck, Delegate 

'from the Commonalty of New Netherland, again praying disposition on the 
petition heretofore delivered in by him. Which being considered, it is resolved and concluded, 



486 NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

that the aforesaid petition shall be placed in the hands of Mess" van der Capelle tho Ryssel, 
and the other their High Mightinesses' Deputies for the affairs of the West India Company, to 
investigate, examine and report thereon. 



Answer of England to the Proposal of the Dutch for Free Trade and Settlement 

of the New Netherland Boundary. 

[ From Iho Original Verbael van (U Airibasfiadt naar Enaelandt, 1652, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Extract from the XXXVI articles, submitted to the Council of State of the 
Republic of England. 21 February, 1652. 

11. 

The inhabitants and subjects of the aforesaid Republic of England, and of the States 
General of the United Netherlands, shall sail and trade to the Caribbee Islands and to Virginia, 
free and unmolested, in the same manner as they have hitherto resorted to and traded with 
these places, without any distinction as to whether those islands and places were first or last 
occupied or possessed by the inhabitants and subjects of the aforesaid Republic, or of the 
United Netherlands, any prohibition published or promulgated to the contrary notwithstanding. 

12. 

And with a view, in like manner, to maintain friendship, peace and good neighborhood 
between both the Nations aforesaid on the continent of North America, a just, certain and 
immovable Boundary line there shall be settled and determined as soon as possible. 1 



Extract. 

The Councell hath considered the Thirty six Articles exhibited by your 

Lordships to their Commission" the -J-j- February, and have returned answer 

thereunto in the following particulars — 

11. For answere to the Eleventh wee say, That the people of the Commonwealth of England 
having beene alwayes strictly forbidden Trade in all Plantations & places belonging to the 
people of the United Provinces that are not within the Netherlands; Wee shall acquiesce 
therein and shall therefore forbeare to sayle or trade with any of their plantations abroad ; and 
shall not interrupt or disturbe them in their sayling to them. — And as for their tradeing to any 
of the English plantations it is forbidden by the late Act for Encrease of the Navigation of this 
Nation, from which wee thinke not fit to recede. 

12. To the Twelfth wee say that the English were the First Planters of the Northerne firme 
land of America, and have plantations there from the Southermost part of Virginia in thirtie 
seven degrees of North latitude, to Newfoundland in Fiftie two degrees; and not knowing of 

1 These two articles are translated from the Latin. — Ed. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VI. 487 

any plantation of the Netherlanders there, save a small number up in Hudson's River, Wee thinke 
it not necessary at present to settle the limits, which may be done hereafter in convenient tyme. 

These things wee have thought fit to Exhibite to yo r Excellencies, upon those 
things you propounded in yo r paper of Thirtie six articles. What remaynes further 
to be offered on our part for consumating the treaty shall in convenient tyme be alsoe 
exhibited to y° Excellencies. 



Whitehall. 

15 March 165£ 



Signed in the name and by order of the Councell of State appointed by Authority 
of Parlament. 

(sd) P. Lisle president ' 



Resolution of the States General. 

[ From the Register of West India Affairs, 1652 — 1663, in the Eoyal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Tuesday, 13 ,h August, 1652. 
Foiio82. Mr. van der Capelle tho Ryssel hath again brought before the Assembly 

pany. and had read, certain written opinion of the Directors of the West India Company 

here in attendance, exhibited on the 31 July last, concerning the preservation of the Coasts of 
English. Brasil, Guinea and New Netherland, and how the English thereabouts can be 

annoyed. Which being considered, it is resolved and concluded, that the said written opinion 
be again placed in the hands of the abovementioned Mr. van der Capelle tho Ryssel and the 
other their High Mightinesses' preceding deputies, in order to investigate, examine, to submit 
their views as to the finding of means and ways whereby the affairs of said West India 
Company in the Countries aforesaid may be restored and preserved in good condition, and to 
report on the whole to their High Mightinesses. 



Resolution of the States General on the projected Invasion of New Netherland. 

[ From the Register of West India Affairs, 1652 — 1663, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Tuesday, 3 d September, 1652. 

Foiio 35. Whereas their High Mightinesses are certainly informed that New Netherland 

is in great danger and imminently exposed to invasion, surprisal and to the 



New Netherland. 



1 Philip Sidney, Lord Lisle, the eldest son of the 2d Earl of Leicester, was a zealous republican. He had in his youth 
been trained up as a diplomatist, attending on his father to the States General and the Courts of Denmark and France, and 
in 1648 was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, where he remained, however, but a short time. He next became president 
of the Council. He died in 1698, and waj succeeded by his son, with whom the title became extinct in 1743. Burke. — Ed. 



488 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

besieging of the cities and fortresses there, by the English, it is, therefore, upon consideration 

resolved and concluded, that a letter be written to the presiding Chamber of the West India 

.... Company of this country, to notify the Director, his council and those of the 

Security against the r J J J 

England. government of the Commonalty in New Netherland aforesaid thereof, and earnestly 

recommend them to garrison, provision and complete the fortresses in New Amsterdam and 
elsewhere in the speediest and strongest manner, also to muster their militia and other forces 
in as large a number as is in anywise possible, and to be generally on the alert, for the obviating 
of all dreaded misfortunes. 



States General to the West India Company. 

[ From the Register of Uitgegane Brieven of the States General, in the Koyal Archives at the Hague. ] 

To the presiding Chamber of the West India Company of this country. 

The States, etc. 
Folio 2M, Honorable, etc. We have this day taken into consideration the present 

New Netheriand. condition of affairs in New Netherland, and thereupon adopted the resolution, 
extract whereof is annexed hereunto, earnestly requesting and requiring you to regulate 
yourselves according to the tenor thereof, and moreover to order the arrangement of everything 
relating thereunto. Done, 3 d September, 1G52. 



DEFENCE 



HENDRIK van DYCK, 



FISCAL 



NEW NETHERLAND, 



Dated 18™ September, ) 1( ,, 
Received 6 Decemb", $ 



[ From the authenticated Copy in (he Eoyal Archives at the Hague ; File, West Indie, 42.] 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VI. 491 

Hendrick van Dyck, Fiscal of New Netherlands to the States General. 

[From Ihe Original in the Royal Archives at the Hague ; File, West Iiidie.] 

To the High and Mighty Lords States General of the United Netherlands. 

My Lords. 

I cannot forbear complaining and making known to your Migh Hightinesses, that Petrus 
Stuyvesant, the Director of this place hath been pleased on his own authority, without the 
assent of his appointed Superior Council, namely an English Lieutenant of Regulars and one 
Lamontanie, a Frenchman, and of the Select men, through passion, prejudice and party spirit 
exhibited towards me during six years, did, contrary to his orders and oath write me on the 
2S ,h of March of this year, after I had served your High Mightinesses and the Company for 
the space of about 13 years, both as Fiscal and Ensign Commandant according to the certificate 
of the preceding Director, dismissing me from mine office of Fiscal on a false, concocted, 
unsigned and undated pasquinade which the entire country believed was written by a clerk 
of the perjured, godless Cornelis van Tienhoven. In the same manner, the Director hath 
deposed Mr. Dincklage from his office also for a false pasquinade which was stuck in the 
Poor box in the Church. 1 send herewith to your High Mightinesses the Dt-fence of mine 
office, likewise the behavior of the Director, also proofs of the godless, forsworn Cornelis 
van Tienhoven who brags here that your High Mightinesses had forbidden him to leave, and 
even has gone so far as to despise your High Mightinesses' authority. I should have gone 
over in person, but am burdened with a wife and four children, and advised even by the public 
not to depart; I have resolved to remain until further order praying your High Mightinesses 
to be pleased to pay attention to my Defence. Should no provision be made for the 
government here, many of the most excellent citizens will have to go away. Should the 
Director remain, and the perjured Tienhoven who is a second Grandvelle 1 to the Director, 'tis 
to be feared that the country will at once be ruined; which God forbid. Referring further to 
the annexed Defence aforesaid, I remain, 

Your High Mightinesses' 

Most Obedient Servant, 

(Signed) H. van Dvck, Fiscal. 

I pray God Almighty to be pleased to continue your High Mightinesses in a long and 
blessed government. 

Manathans, IS'" 7 bcr A 1G52. 

1 Antoine Pekkesot, Cardinal de Granvelle, was Minister to Charles V., and afterwards to Philip II., King of Spain; also. 
Prime Minister of Margaret of Parma, Regent of the Low Countries. So great was his influence over Phiiip, that the King 
could do nothing without him. Divers authors accuse him unjustly of being partly the cause of the troubles in the Low 
Countries. He died at Madrid, 21 September, 1586, aged 70 years. Moreri. Grande Dictionnaire Hisluriqut, V., 137. His 
connection with the history of the United Netherlands, and his influence over Philip, will explain the familiar use of his 
name in the text. — Ed. 



492 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Commissions, Instructions and Orders of the High and Mighty Lords States 
General and Hon b,e General Incorporated West India Company of the 
United Netherlands, to which Petrus Stuyvesant as Director, Lubbertus 
van Dincklage, Deputy, and Hendricus van Dyck as Fiscal, of New 
Netherland and places lying thereabout, are respectively bound by oath, 
together with the Gravamina on the several Instructions and Orders drawn 
up by the said Fiscal for his Defence before the August, Noble, High and 
Mighty Lords and Masters. 



Commission of Petrus Stuyvesant as Director of New Netherland. 

[Omitted; being already printed, supra, p. 178.] 

Oath of Petrus Stuyvesant as Director. 

This day, the 2S lh July, 164G, hath Petrus Stuyvesant, as Director, named in the blank 
hereof, taken the proper Oath, at the hands of the Lord President of their High Mightinesses' 
Assembly, punctually to conform himself to his Instruction, both in regard to New Netherland 
and other Islands mentioned in his Instruction. Was signed in my presence. 

Corn* Musch. 

Commission for Curacao. 

The Directors of the General Incorporated West India Company in the United Netherlands. 
To all those who shall see these presents or hear them read, Health : Whereas, for the 
government and promotion of our affairs at Curacao and the Islands dependent thereon, and 
of the ships and yachts heretofore sent and to be hereafter sent thither by us, We had need 
of a capable qualified person, Be it known: That We, confiding in the probity, experience 
and prudence of Petrus Stuyvesant, heretofore in charge of the Government aforesaid, etc. 
Done in our Assembly, at Amsterdam, this 10 lh July, 1646. Underneath was (Signed) 
Bonaventure Broen. And lower down, (Signed By Order of the same) Gysbert Rudolphi. 

West India Company's Commission to Director Stuyvesant. 

The Commissioners on behalf of the General Incorporated West India Company in the 
United Netherlands. To all those who shall see these presents or hear them read, Health : 
Be it known: Whereas, We have deemed inadvisable for the promotion of the affairs of the 
General Incorporated West India Company, not only to maintain the trade and population of 
the Coasts of New Netherland and the places situate thereabouts, together with the Islands 
of Cura§oa, Buenaire, Aruba and their dependencies, hitherto encouraged thither from this 
country, but also to endeavor to make new treaties and alliances with foreign princes, and to 
inflict as much injury as possible on the enemy, in his forts and strongholds, as well by sea as 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS : VI. 493 

by land; for which purposes it becomes necessary to appoint a person Director: — We 
therefore, confiding in the probity and experience of Petrus Stuyvesant, formerly intrusted 
with our atfairs at, and the government of, the aforesaid Island of Curac,oa and places 
thereunto depending, being well pleased with his services there, have commissioned and 
appointed, and by these presents, do appoint and commission the said Petrus Stuyvesant, 
Director over the aforesaid countries of New Netherland and the places thereunto adjoining, 
to administer, with the Council as well now, as hereafter to be, appointed with him, the said 
office of Director, both by water and land, and, in said quality, to attend carefully to the 
advancement, promotion and preservation of friendship, alliances, trade and commerce; to 
direct all matters appertaining to traffic and war, and to maintain in good order everything 
there for the service of the United Netherlands and the General West India Company; to 
establish regularity for the security of the places and forts therein; to administer law 
and justice, as well civil as criminal ; and, moreover, to perform all that concerns his 
office and duties in accordance with the charter, and the general and particular Instructions 
herewith issued, and to be hereafter given to him, as a good and faithful Director is 
bound and obliged to do by his oath taken at the hands of the president of our Assembly : 
which done, We order and command all other officers, common soldiers, together with 
the inhabitants and natives residing in the aforesaid places as subjects, and all whom it 
might concern, to acknowledge, respect and obey the said Petrus Stuyvesant as our Director 
in the countries and places of New Netherland, and to afford all help, countenance and 
assistance in the performance of these presents, as We have found the same to be for the 
advantage of the Company. 

Done in our Assembly of the XIX., on behalf of the General Incorporated West India 
Company in Amsterdam, this 5 th May, 164-5. (Signed) Henricus van der Capelle, tho' 
Ryssel, Tt . Beneath was, By Order of the same, (Signed) Gysbert Rudolphi. 

Commission of Lubbertus van Dinclage as Deputy Governor of New Netherland. 

The Commissioners of the General Incorporated West India Company in the United 
Netherlands. Whereas We, for the direction and management of the affairs of New Netherland, 
have considered it proper and necessary, there to establish a court consisting of a Director, a 
Vice-Director, and a Fiscal, and therefore not only the office of Director, but also that of Vice, 
with a fit and capable person to furnish : — Therefore, We reposing confidence in the good report 
made to us of Dr. Lubbertus van Dinclage, of his fitness, experience and capacity, have 
acknowledged, appointed, and deputed, and hereby acknowledge, appoint, and depute the said 
Lubbertus van Dinclage as Second to, and first Councillor of, the Director in New Netherland, 
in such quality to proceed to and reside at Fort Amsterdam, the said Director to respect as his 
chief, with him over all occurring questions of war, police and trade, to deliberate, and to fill 
his place in the absence of the said Director; to attend to the preservation and increase of 
contracts, all alliances, friendship aud commerce; to assist in the administration of law and 
justice as well criminal as civil ; all disorders, abuses, and irregularities, which have already 
crept in, or may hereafter arise, to redress and remove, and further to perform all that a good 
and faithful Director is bound to do, according to the Instructions already given or yet to be 
given. They desire, order and command, therefore, the aforesaid Director and all Captains, 
Commissaries, and Skippers, and whomsoever this may in any way concern, that they do, 



494 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

therefore respect and uphold the aforesaid Lubbertus Dinclage, and in the fulfillment of these 

to afford him all help, support and assistance, each so far as to him appertains; on pain of the 

contraveners or disobedient incurring our indignation, as we have found such to be fitting to 

the service of the Company. 

Given in our Assembly of the XIX. in Amsterdam, this 5 ,h May, 1645. 

Was paraphed. 

Henricus van der Capelle tho Ryssel, Tl . 

Beneath was, By order of the same. 

(Signed) Gysbert Rudolphi. 

Commission of Henricus van Dijch as Fiscal 

The Directors of the Incorporated West India Company at the Chamber of Amsterdam. To 
all those who shall see or hear these presents read, Health. Be it known : Whereas We, for 
the maintenance of all good order, regularity and discipline among the people in New Netherland, 
and the plates situate thereabout, under the command of our beloved, faithful Director there 
residing, have found it necessary at the said place to appoint a good Fiscal, to make complaints 
against all delinquents and transgressors of the military laws and all other our Instructions and 
commands, the same to arraign and cause to be punished; and for such office has been proposed 
to us the person of Hendrick van Dyck, Therefore, We confiding fully in his fitness and diligence 
for the performance thereof, have deputed, authorized, and appointed, and hereby depute, 
authorize, and appoint the said Hendrick van Dyck as Fiscal over the aforesaid countries of 
New Netherland, and the places situate thereabout ; giving him full power, charge and authority 
the said office to fill and attend both by land and water; to take congnizance and information 
on all forfeits, excesses and crimes; all delinquents, contraveners, and transgressors of the law 
martial and all other Instructions and orders, as well of the aforesaid Assembly of the XIX. as 
of the aforesaid Director, to summon and, according to demand and circumstances, to prosecute : 
to proceed to definitive judgment ; to execute the same, and delinquents to cause to be punished, 
pursuant to the contents thereof, and moreover to do and observe all that it behooves a good 
Fiscal to perform, following and observing, in bis proceedings and complaints, all proper 
formalities in conformity to the placards and ordinances which have been promulgated here, 
and moreover conformably to wrttten laws. We, therefore, order and command all officers, as 
well political, military as naval, together with all common mariners, soldiers, and all other 
inhabitants under our obedience there, or who shall hereafter come thither, to acknowledge 
and respect the said Hendrick van Dyck as our Fiscal, and him in the prosecution of his office 
in no way to interrupt, but in support of justice all help and furthermore by deeds to show and 
afford ; therein shall our earnest intention be met. 

Given at the Assembly in Amsterdam this 2S lb June, 1G45. 

Was paraphed Simon van der Does vt . 

Beneath By Order of the same. 

(Signed) Gysbert Rudolphi. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VI. 495 

Instruction of the Commissioners at the Assembly of the XIX. of the General 
Incorporated West India Company for the Director and Council of New 
Netherland, according to which they shall provisionally and until further 
order regulate themselves. 

I, as Fiscal, have never seen, nor been furnished with, nor had directly or indirectly, any 
communication of, any further or other than this general provisional, and my own particular, 
Instruction. 

1. 
The Supreme Council in the Countries of New Netherland shall consist of three persons, 
namely : The Director as President, his Vice and the Fiscal, hy whom all occurring 
affairs relating to police, justice, militia, the dignity and just rights of the 
Company, shall be administered and decided, each remaining bound, nevertheless, 
to vindicate his own Commission. 

The Supreme government in the Countries of New Netherland in all occurring cases is, and 
was undertaken and administered by the Director alone, on his own authority, according to 
his pleasure, in granting commissions, forming new alliances, treaties with foreign potentates, 
fitting out of ships, trading and negotiating, granting patents for land and lots, appointments, 
resolutions and other business, relating to my office of Fiscal, not acknowledging me therein 
except so far as he in such cases considered to suit his convenience, and craftily resolved, as I 
was aware, from particular motives. As regards justice, militia, the dignity and rights of 
the Hoii hle Company, he did not hesitate to transact a great deal of business in the name of the 
Director and Council without the Deputy's advice or mine, and in matters wherein I was 
recognized, which only seldom happened, his Honor was pleased frequently to burst into a 
violent rage both against the Deputy and me, if we in our advice did not fall in with his 
humor, scolding and berating us in open Court, in the hearing of all the contending parties 
and applicants both within and without the Council Chamber, as rogues and robbers of the 
Hon Lle Company, etc., threatening to beat and break us. And this we could not prevent, 
notwithstanding the many protests we made against such mode of proceeding, several of which 
his Honor forbade the Secretary at the meeting to enter in the Register, and of some that were 
recorded we could rarely obtain extract or copies; his Honor always said he would vindicate 
everything in Holland. 

2. 

With this understanding, however, that in all cases in which the Advocate Fiscal shall 
be obliged to proceed as conservator of the rights of the Supreme Authority, or of 
the Company, be the same Civil or Criminal, the Military Commandant shall sit 
in his stead, and if the charge be criminal, two capable persons shall moreover be 
adjoined from the Commonalty of that district where the crime or act was 
committed. 

The Commander of the Soldiers, who is an Englishman named Brian Nuton and 
understands little or no Dutch, who can when necessary sign his name, receives his wages 
and support at the Director's hands having no other means of livelihood, hath continual seat and 



49G NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

vote in the Council. Also a Frenchman named La Montagne who is burdened with a large 
family and is greatly in want of provisions ; who is indebted several thousand guilders to the 
Company and derives his support from the Director. In place of two capable persons to be 
adjoined in criminal cases from the Commonalty of the District or Colonie where the crime 
or act is committed, which God be praised was of rare occurrence, the Director keeps these 
two persons at the expense of the Company and with them and the Minister Megapolensis ] and 
as many other private persons as he approves and expect his favor, deliberates, resolves and 
dispatches business all in the name of the Director and Council ; they, especially Montagne 
and Nuton. must always conform to the humor of the Director, and say nothing else but Yes; 
otherwise the purse is closed, all favor missed and they get beaten in addition, if the Director's 
head be not well, or he be not sufficiently well pleased. We have frequently asked and tried 
to see their qualification as Councillors, but were told it was none of our concern. 

3. 

As regards the promotion of the settlement of the Boundaries between the people of New 
Netherland and the English, it is not considered necessary to proceed therewith at 
present; but the Director and Council are instructed to take care that the English 
do not encroach further on the Company's lands ; in the meantime they are to try 
if a boundary can be determined on yonder, with the aforesaid English, and the 
inclination thereunto appearing, they are instructed to send forthwith advice 
thereof hither, with pertinent information after due inquiry, how much of the 
Company's lands the English possess ; all with the understanding, nevertheless, 
that the aforesaid English who are at present in the Company's district and have 
settled there, or shall come and settle therein, shall be subject to the Company's 
government there, and to that end shall take the oath of fidelity to. their High 
Mightinesses the Lords States General and the West India Company, after which 
they shall not be regarded otherwise than as original subjects. 

In respect to the division of boundaries between the people of New Netherland and the 
English, the Director hath, without any advice and joint resolution, not only repaired to New 
England, in September, 1650, but hath there, also, on his own authority, so far proceeded in 
the matter of the boundary, that he and the English mutually referred the differences thereon 
to four arbitrators, two of whom were chosen on each side. The Director named on his side, 
instead of Dutchmen, one M r Thomas Willet, 2 a merchant residing at Plymouth, in New 

1 Rev. Johannes Megapolensis, Junr., son of the minister of Coedyek, in Holland, was born in the year 1603, and at the 
time of leaving his native country, was in charge of the congregation of Schoorel and Berge, under the Clas6is of Alkmaer. 
He came to America in the summer of 1642, with Matheld Willemsen, his wife, and Hellegond, Dirck, Jan and Samuel, their 
children. He was the first minister in Fort Orange, now Albany, where he officiated until 1649, when he was called to take 
charge of the church in New Amsterdam, on the departure of Dominie Backerus. It is supposed that he returned to Holland 
on the surrender of New Netherland to the English, in 1664. Rev. Mr. Megapolensis wrote, in 1644, while minister of 
Rensselaerswyck, a tract on the Mohawk Indians entitled, KoH Onlwerp van de Mahakuase Indianen in Xietixc Kederlandl, 
haer Lant, Stature, Bracht, Manieren en ilaghtraten, heschreven in 't jaer 1644; which was printed without his consent, in 
1651. A translation of it is to be found in Hazard's State Papers, I., 17. He aho wrote a religious tract entitled, 
" Examination and Confession for the Benefit of those who arc inclined to approach the Table of the Lord." — Ed. 

2 Thomas Willett, afterwards first Mayor of New-York, arrived, whilst yet a young man, at Plymouth, in 1629, from 
Leyden, in Holland, where he had been sojourning with other Puritans. He was sent the following year to Penobscot, 
to superintend a trading house, but returned soon after and engaged in the carrying trade between the New England 
Colonies and New Amsterdam, where he is fouud possessing some land interest? in 161.",. lie was, in subsequent years, an 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VI. 497 

England, and one George Baxter, appointed heretofore by the Director here, Ensign over the 
soldiers, both of whom were Englishmen, whose decision being highly injurious to this 
Province, the Director declined, though repeatedly requested, to make public his adventures 
and transactions with the English, and even though we, at the request of some Select men 
appointed by himself, have demanded a report and explanation thereof, inasmuch as very 
strange reports are abroad among the people, that the Director had sold the country to the 
English, he gave us for answer: "I must give an account of my commission, and regard 
nothing else," etc., as appears by the statement of the Deputy and myself, dated xii. April, 
1651, so that we have not bee*n able to obtain any other or further assurance and explanation 
of the agreement with the English, than a simple writing from New England, entitled 
"Translation of News from New England," being the substance of what is confirmed by daily 
reports, both of public and private trustworthy persons from those parts. 

In order to reestablish peace and quietness once more throughout the country, they 
shall endeavor, by all possible means, to pacify and give satisfaction to the Indians; 
and the Director and Council are therein charged to advance, on the one side, the 
interests of the Company, and on the other to maintain good correspondence with 
their neighbors, and especially the Indians. 

The country is more and more disquieted and disturbed ; for, the Indians not only complain 
that they receive no satisfaction for the land but they hesitate not to kill on the bouweries the 
settlers who are dispersed throughout the country, as happened lately on the 17 lb May last to 
Peter Comelissen, one of the Select men appointed by the Director, and three persons whom the 
Indians killed on his bouwerie near Hellgate. Jochim Pit-ters Cuyter, Willem Beeckman, 
Michiel Jansen, Geurt Coerten, and many others are by the Indians threatened to have their 
bouweries fired should no satisfaction be given. The Deputy and 1 have repeatedly inquired 
what lands were bought and how were they paid for, but we never could learn. We must 
always be satisfied with the word and say-so of Secretary Cornelis van Tienhoven and the 
Director. I cannot omit stating here that the late Commissary Adriaen Keyser and Augustin 
Heerman going hence to Rhode Island in New Ei'gland, on the 14 lh April, Ensign George 
Baxter gave them a letter for William Coddington, 1 Governor there, which letter the Court or 
Assembly of the people of Rhode Island intercepted and opened, accusing the bearers of it with 
the Governor and their Director, the abovenamed Tienhoven and Baxter, of conspiracy and 
treason against the State of New England, inasmuch as, among other things, the Director 

active friend to the Dutch, whom he more than once seasonality notified of the designs of the English. He was a Magistrate 
of Plymouth from 1651 to 1664, when, at ihe request of Colonel Nichols, he accompanied the expedition against (he Dutch 
Colony. On the change of the Charter of the city of New-York to an English form, in 1665, Captain Willett was appointed 
its first Mayor, and held that office again in 1667, ill the course of which year, 'tis presumed, he returned to New England 
and settled at Rehohoth or Swansey, ( now in the town of Seeconck, ) Mass., where he died on the 3d Aug ist, 1674. ( Baylies' 
Historical Memoirs of Plymouth, II., 235, 236; Ntw England Geneult/gical Ht-ginter, IX., 318; Valentine a Manual,) A plain 
monument mai ks the spot where his ashes repose. 

' William Coddington was a native of Lincolnshire, England, and arrived at Salem, Massachusetts, in the Arabella, 12 June, 
1630. lie continued in the Magistracy until 1637, and in the following year relinquished his advantageous position aa 
Merchant, at Bo.-ton, and removed to Rhode Island, of the settlement of which place he was the principal instiumcrt. He 
was chosen Governor of that Colony in 1640, and for the seven succeeding years. He went to England in 1651, and was 
commissioned Governor of Aquetneck Island, separate fro u the other part of the Colony, about the period referred to in the 
text. As the people were opposed to such an office. Governor Coddington resigned and retired to private life, where he 
continued until 1674, when he was again elevated to the Chief Magulracy. He was re elected in 1675, and died >ovember 1, 
1678, aged 77 years. Allen. — Ed. 

Vol. 1. 63 



498 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

in said letter offered Governor Coddington some soldiers to be employed against the Inhabitants 
of Rhode Island. Wherefore the bearers of the letter were obliged to give bail in the sum of 
1001b. sterling until their innocence should be proved. Whereupon the aloresaid persons 
returning hither with copy of the letter, complained to the Director and Council of the aforesaid 
Baxter's writing. They were illy received, finally obtaining, after great trouble, a certificate of 
their ignorance from the abovenamed Council and Select men. And instead of the Director, 
Tienhoven and Baxter purging themselves as being innocent of disturbing the peace between 
our neighbors, or at least punishing the writer of the letter, the matter was disregarded and 
the Director, Tienhoven and Baxter still remain great amigos and. companions daily resorting 
each other's company to the great suspicion and probability of what is above related. The 
High and Mighty Lords and masters have to consider how the advantage of the Company, the 
welfare of the people, and the maintenance of good correspondence with neighbors and with 
Indians are promoted. 

5. 

They shall do all in their power to induce the Colonists to establish themselves at some 
of the most suitable places, with a certain number of inhabitants, in the manner of 
towns, villages and hamlets, as the English are in the habit of doing, whereby they 
will dwell in greater security, according to the intentions of the Company in the 
granting of the already printed Freedoms, and the amplifications thereof. 

The Director proceeds so rigorously against the Commandant of the Colonie Renslaerswyck 
and the Patroon of Staten Island, that it is to be deplored and is a scandal for neighboring 
Christians and heathens, causing him to be dragged forcibly by soldiers out of the Colonie, 
and to be detained a prisoner at the Manhatans; and so terrifying Cornell's Melyn, on Staten 
Island, that he dare not leave the place, nor entirely expose himself; the Director managing 
all this with his needy Council, where, nevertheless, differences are settled by other appropriate 
means, and such violent proceedings prevented without any diminution of the Hon ble 
Company's right and authority. The Director hath, on his own authority, begun to plant a 
hamlet in the Flat bush, on Long island, between Amersfort and Breukelen ; he named it 
Middelwout, where Jan Snediker, one of his Select men hath settled. The Indians complaining 
that they were not compensated for that land, no attention was paid to them. Being 
dissatisfied, they threatened Jan Snediger to burn his bouwerie, who, complaining thereof to 
the Director, the latter, with his good friends, arranged on the 2 nd of June last, with the 
Indians, respecting the payment for the land. The Director was to pay, but nothing has been 
done in the matter, so that the man continues in danger, and the village does not prosper; the 
Director will not pay, neither will he suffer others to pay for the land. 

6. 

The Director and Council aforesaid, shall use dispatch in the repairs of Fort Amsterdam, 
for which purpose 'tis considered best and least expensive to the Company, to 
build the same of good clay, earth and firm sods, and to encourage the soldiers 
to that work by some presents, and bind them to keep it in continual repair. And 
whereas it is of the highest importance to the Colonists to possess a good and safe 
retreat in case of necessity (which God prevent), they should be induced to aid in 
the work for this once, and the Director is commanded to attend closely for the 
future to the ordinary repairs thereof. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VI. 499 

In the yearl64S, the Director, independent of the Deputy and me, requested the Select men 
to lend a hand to finish the fort, who gave for answer, that they understood nothing about it, 
hut maintained that, as the people pay the duties, the wine and beer excise and the toll at the 
mill, the fort could be easily finished with that money. Wherefore the Director became much 
irritated against them. For this and other reasons, and because the Director acted like a 
Sovereign, and would not recognize us in our quality as he ought, the Delegates from the 
Commonalty went to Holland ; after which, in the year 1651, the Director, also unknown to 
us, after he had, contrary to your High Mightinesses' letters, dismissed the Board of Select men, 
and installed others according to his whim and caprice, had the outside of the fort faced with 
flat sods by the Company's Negroes. But as the soil is sandy and the foundation weak, the 
sods mostly sagged and fell to pieces, so that the inhabitants' swine damaged the fort, 
whereupon the Director ordered the soldiers to shoot whatever hogs came there. This was 
accordingly done; a collection was afterwards made among the people on behalf of the 
Director, and over eight hundred guilders contributed into the hands of Paulus Leendertsen, 
late naval officer, and now one of the Select men. After that, the Director through Willem 
Beeckman, also one of his Select men, borrowed firewood here and there, with which the fort 
is now set off. The Director has to answer for the distribution of the moneys drawn from the 
Commonalty for the purposes aforesaid, for the building of a school, etc. The fort hitherto 
is used to torment, rather than to defend several of the inhabitants and Colonists. 

7. 
The persons hereinafter specified, shall be maintained to garrison the fort, on such pay 
as shall be found most advantageous for the Company, and for greater security the 
Colonists and their domestics shall be holden, under certain penalties, to provide 
themselves with good muskets and other weapons for their own defence, so as 
to be able, in time of necessity, with the garrison to resist a general attack, without 
the Director, Colonists, or whosoever it may be, having the power to take into the 
pay of the Company any soldiers, be they few or many. 

The Director garrisons the fort according to his pleasure without mine or the Deputy's 
knowledge; he discharges and enlists soldiers; gets some out from Fatherland. Since he 
hath shoved me and the Deputy out of our offices, and appointed his beloved Cornells van 
Tienhoven, Fiscal, we do not know precisely how many soldiers he hath in pay. 

One hundred muskets have been distributed among the people, which had been brought 
over by Jacob van Kouwenhoven; without the assistance and accommodation in wheat, 
furnished by this individual, the Company's servants at Curacao and here, would have perished 
of hunger, according to the representation of the Director, who repeatedly borrowed grain of 
him, and treated him tyrannically notwithstanding. 'Twill hereafter be shown, on your High 
Mightinesses' order, how the people were bound to keep their arms in good condition. 

8. 
Further, inasmuch as the respective Colonists have been allowed by the Freedoms to 
delegate one or two persons to give information to the Director and Council at 
least once a year of the state and condition of their Colonies, the same is hereby 
confirmed. 



500 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

This has never been done to my knowledge, and I refer to the answer to the 5 ,b article 
which can be taken into consideration here. 

9. 

The Director and Council shall, first of all, establish the Colonists and freemen on the 

Island of Manhattans, and grant to them as mu' h land as they will be able to 

cultivate, either as tobacco plantations, or with grain and all other crops to which 

the soil is adapted, and from which they may expect to derive the greatest profit. 

I have no knowledge of any bouwerie having been formed on the Island of Manhatans during 
Director Stuyvesant's administration. Some have been abandoned ; others not begun. 
Jochem Pieters Cuyter whom the Director did heretofore, for the affair of the Select men, 
publicly banish the country, with ringing of the bell, and whom he now has re-established 
in the same office and appointed Elder of the Church, hath again commenced his bouwerie in 
company with the Director, and many others should be begun. Many other persons would 
fain undertake bouvveries but the matter sticks and the country remains uncultivated, partly, 
in addition to other reasons, through dread of the Indians and their threats; partly also, 
through fear that the patents are invalid, inasmuch as the Director executes and issues them 
in the name of the Director General and Council, without my knowledge and advice or that of 
the Deputy ; as appears by the protest which we have signed dated the 19 ,h December, 1650. 
The Director shall vindicate all this. 

10. 

And in order to promote the cultivation of the land there, 'twould be well to permit at 
the request of the Patroons, Colonists and other farmers, the introduction of 
as many Negroes as they are willing to purchase at a fair price ; and the Director 
and Council shall notify the Assembly hereof every year, when further order shall 
be taken respecting the transport of Negroes thither. 

No request for Negroes has been presented from Patroons or Colonists here to my 
knowledge. But in the year 1651, the Director inducing and advising the Commonalty 
through special regard to make renewed efforts to get people, &c, from Fatherland hither, 
the Lords Majors advised his Honor and his Select men for good reasons, to the effect that it 
was not acceptable. 

11. 

And although 'tis proposed for the further encouragement of population, to reserve the 
trade with the Indians exclusively to the Patroons, Colonists and freemen residing 
there, without permitting any private traders to carry on any commerce with said 
Indians, 'tis nevertheless resolved as far as regards these, to adhere to the existing 
practice, but the Director and Council shall take information thereupon to serve as 
advice to the Assembly. 

The private traders carry on traffic with the Indians the same as the Freemen, according 
to the old custom, and nothing in regard thereto has ever been mooted or proposed by the 
Director in the Council. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VI. 501 

12. 
The aforesaid Director and Council shall pay strict regard that no arms nor munitions 
of war shall be sold by the Freemen to the Indians, nor by the private traders to 
the Freemen or Indians, upen certain penalties to be enacted therefor; but the 
Freemen who require any, may obtain the same from the Company's store on an 
order of the Director and Council. 

The Director allows his commissaries at Fort Orange to trade fusils and articles of 
contraband to the Indians, according to his Honor's acknowledgment and avowal in the 
Council, to wit, that he had Mess" the Directors' order thereunto, which Jacob van 
Schermerhorn and Jacob Ryntjes reproached him with in full Court, in 1049, when the 
Director on my demand, ex ojjicio confiscated their goods. Whereunto his Honor answered, 
that he would do it, and will not allow them to do it. The Deputy observed that such did 
not accord with the General instruction. The Freemen have never had, to our knowledge, 
any guns out of the store, where indeed none are kept for them. 

13. 

And whereas, the Company hath now resolved to open to private persons the trade 
which it has exclusively carried on with New Netherland, and to empower the 
respective Chambers of the Company to give permission to all private inhabitants 
of these Countries to sail with their own ships to New Netherland, the Virginias, 
the Swedish, English and French Colonies, Barmudas or any other places situate 
thereabout, according to the drafted regulation, they shall carefully observe or 
cause to be observed, that the contents thereof shall be attended to as much as is 
in their power, acting against the contraveners, agreeably to the first article of the 
Charter, and the tenor of the regulation already made and to be hereafter enacted, 
and regarding the receipts of the duties, tolls and other rights already imposed 
and to be hereafter imposed, as well on the exported as on the imported goods, for 
so much thereof as shall have to be paid in that and not in this country. 

The Director never showed the Charter or Regulation to me nor to the Deputy, though 
repeatedly requested. Nevertheless, the contracts entered into by the skippers with the 
Hon b,e Company were closely observed by me as far as I was recognized and employed. 
The Director alone has to answer for the receipt of the duties, tolls and other dues, as he 
never acknowledged me in the matter, nor ever paid my salary nor my part of the 
confiscation, and on the contrary, upheld by his needy, unlawful Council aforesaid, he hath 
had and undertaken the management of all things, without recognizing the Deputy or me 
therein ; and when we inquired of him about the matter, we received ill treatment and the old 
answer: I shall defend it all. 

All which points and articles the Director and Council shall be holden to observe and 
to follow, as much as possible, regulating themselves further according to the 
instructions, heretofore given for the direction of those countries, so far as 
the same are not hereby already altered or may not be hereafter changed; which 
power the Assembly reserves to itself. 



502 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

The High and Mighty and Hon ble Lords and Masters can judge how we have heen 
domineered over, and how the Director has to answer for everything, and I douht not they will 
hold us excused in the premises, respectfully and most humbly requesting the payment of 
our salaries, and offering our further service in our respective capacities. Under present 
circumstances or with the present government, 'tis impossible for the country to exist ; with 
sinister and seditious practises, all means have been employed to force us out of the service, 
and notwithstanding all frivolous actions have been sought, the aid of pasquinades must be 
called in and had recourse to. Were an honorable gentleman put in my place, the false 
accusation which the Director made and sent over against me long ago, might have some 
semblance of truth ; but his perjured Secretary, Cornells van Tienhoven, who returned hither 
contrary to the prohibition of their High Mightinesses; who is known, and can be proved to 
all the world, to be a public whoremonger and perjurer; who is a disgrace to, and the sole affliction 
of Christians and heathens in this country and whom the Director hath always managed to 
shield; this is the person whom the Director hath, of his own authority, appointed Fiscal. A 
fuller account shall be hereafter given hereof. And we have patiently borne and endured 
everything up to this time. Had we in the slightest degree opposed the Director's usurped 
Sovereignty, the country would have easily been deluged with blood, which (God mend it!) is 
even yet to be apprehended. 

Thus done and resolved in the Assembly of the XIX. of the General Incorporated West 
India Company, in Amsterdam, in the year 1645, the 7 th of July; was paraphed 
Henr. van der Capelle tho Ryssel (and was signed) By order of the same. 

Gysbert Rudolphi. 

My gravamina for vindication in the premises to the High and Mighty and Hon ble Lords and 
Masters, thus done and represented in New Amsterdam, New Netherland, the 16 th September, 

A° 1652. 

(Signed) H. van Dvck. 

I concur in the preceding gravamina for my defence, in my quality as Deputy. Done as above. 

(Signed) L. van Dincklage. 



(Duplicate.) 

States General to the Director and Council of New Netherland. 

Honorable. We continue daily to turn our attention to the prosperity of New Netherland 
interests, and are therefore occupied in deliberations with the Directors of the 
West India Company on the peopling of said New Netherland and its dependencies. 
Meanwhile we have permitted some persons delegated hither from the Commonalty 
of that place, to return there, requiring you, therefore, neither to trouble nor molest 
those who came from New Netherland and are about to return thither, on account 
of any representations that may have been made here; and whereas we deem it 
expedient that the population, which is now needed, should be favored and 
encouraged in every way, we direct and order you to take care that the Country 
be not divested of horses and cows, also that supplies of provisions be reserved for 
the arriving Colonists; that the inhabitants be furnished with arms necessary for 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS : VI. 503 

their defence and that the guns he stamped. For which purpose the Delegates 
from New Netherland are allowed to purchase and convey thither two hundred 
guns to be distributed according to orders by us given. And that, therefore, all 
inhabitants shall be forbidden henceforth to sell any stamped guns and to export or 
cause to be exported any horses or cows without permission of the Council. You 
shall, moreover, distribute the aforesaid guns among the inhabitants of the City 
of New Amsterdam, and to all those who are capable of bearing arms, and to other 
families scatterd throughout the Country, with express command that they shall be 
obliged to keep their guns in good order and to provide themselves with requisite 
powder, keeping correct register of the guns distributed as aforesaid, so that they 
may be inspected and examined every three months, and should any guns remain 
over, they shall be stored in the warehouse. Done the first April 1650. Was 
paraphed Johan van Reede .". Underneath was, By order of the High Mighty 
Lords States General. 

(Signed) Corn. Musch. 

(Addressed.) 

Venerable, Honorable, Valiant our right faithful, the Director 
and Council in New Netherland. 
Was sealed with their High Mightinesses' Seal in Red wax covered with paper. 

Notwithstanding divers petitions and requests, I have not been able to see nor read, nor 
have communication of this despatch; but have received copy thereof from the duplicate of the 
Select men. To what the Director hath turned his attention and his acts, will best appear from 
this and from his defence. The complaints of old and new comers testify how population and 
whatever appertains thereunto, are promoted. How the delegates from the Commonalty 
and others returned hither have been treated and in every manner of way persecuted by sinister 
practices, on account of matters represented to your High Mightinesses, themselves can tell, for 
every one of them knows. The Director hath sent Arent van Cuelen ' with horses to the West 
India Islands, which he hath sold at Antigua. The Director threatened to retain the brewers' 
grain in store, in place of keeping a supply himself, and, in order to feed the Company's 
servants both here and at Curasao, goes to borrow and haul Jacob van Kouwenhoven's corn, 
who for peace sake, dare not object ; but may be, that does not help him any. Jacob van 
Kouwenhoven brought over a hundred muskets for the Commonalty, which were stamped and 
distributed among them, but were sold to the Indians the same as those not stamped ; 
and with the consent of the Director two stamped guns were given by the English of Gravesend 
to the Indians in payment of their land. The stamped guns were not inspected every three 
months; indeed, no inspection has ever taken place. The Director accused me of connivance, 
when he himself was the cause and made all the trouble and disorder. Jacob van Kouwenhoven 
once brought an Indian to me with a stamped gun, but it was not the Director's pleasure that 
I should perform my duty, in order to find out who might have sold it to the Indian. 

1 Sic. Van Curler. — Ed. 



504 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Instruction for Hendrick van Dyck, Fiscal of the General Incorporated West 
India Company in New Netherland and adjoining places. 

Gravamina for the vindication of this Instruction, hy me as Fiscal of New Netherland and 
adjoining places, to the High and Mighty and Noble Lords and Masters. 

1. 

In the first place, he shall he holden with zeal, diligence and activity to protect, preserve, 
and defend the public and Company's rights, domains, jurisdiction, dignity and 
authority, as well in as out of Court, without dissimulation or regard to any private 
favor or hate. 

On the voyage hither, or first to Curasao, with the Director, his Honor confiscated in the 
roadstead of (St.) Christopher the yacht called the Liefde which sailed from Schiedam; this 
was done without desiring to have any demand from me officially to that effect; refusing me 
free access and seat, contrary to the Instruction, saying: Get out, whenever I need you, I'll 
call you ; addressing to me this rude language — Who allowed you to come into the Court ? In 
regard to the protecting, preserving and defending the Company's lands, rights, domains, 
jurisdiction and authority, the Director hath continually treated me in like manner, recognizing 
me no further than he thought proper now and then, and as his liking or disliking dictated, 
as he strutted along in his sovereign mood. 

2. 

He shall consequently he and form a party when necessary, in all questions of 
police, justice and finance, before our Director and Council resident in New 
Netherland, and before the Military and Naval Courts there, or which shall resort 
under the authority of the aforesaid Director and Council, to any forts, roads or 
havens in and on the Coast of New Netherland, and the places thereon adjoining, 
at all which he shall have free access and seat, but no vote. 

When I arrived in the harbor of Curacao, I offered my service according to the Instruction 
to attend to the Company's rights in discharging the ships, the Groote Gerrit and the Princes 
which his Honor did not permit, though there was no other Fiscal there, saying: You are no 
Fiscal of Curacao ; refusing me there free access and seat, as long as we remained, and 
keeping me in the ship some three weeks, ere I was permitted to go ashore, notwithstanding 
all the other officers, nay, even the soldiers had leave immediately on their arrival. In New 
Netherland he admitted me and gave me a seat according to his pleasure, not hesitating to 
exclude me from Court for the space of 29 months, afterwards detaining me a prisoner in my 
house 4 days, with a sentinel before the door who had express orders not to permit any person 
to speak to me, and then releasing me when his hastiness was over and his passion had abated. 
Thus hath his Honor endeavored, from the beginning, to drive me from the service. 

3. 

To his care are committed the direction and management of all actions, as well civil as 
criminal, thereabout ; to institute, defend, arrange and draw up the same, and 
prosecute them to a termination iu such manner as he shall, on his sworn oath 
find proper, or consider best. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VI. 595 

4. 
It being well understood, that he shall not undertake any actions having reference 
to our rights, domain or finance, except by order of our Council aforesaid. 

The direction and management of all business, both Civil and Criminal, have been 
undertaken by the Director himself, who employed me very rarely and mostly as his boy; 
ordering me to look to the hogs and to keep these from the fort, which a negro could have 
easily done. In court he was at once Judge, party and even fiscal; confiscating several ships, 
such as the St. Btninio, etc, without my demand; some at my suit and pleas drawn up by the 
Director himself, some of the drafts still remaining in my hands, as he never intrusted me 
with instituting suits or was willing to hear a word from me in the case. 

5. 

And he shall not criminally arraign any man before the respective courts of justice, 
nor cause him to be arrested, but upon previous information, which however he 
shall not take himself, except by order as aforesaid, or in such cases as he might 
have personally been witness to, when they took place, and wherein the delinquent 
might be prosecuted on the instant occurrence of the deen. 

God be praised, no criminal cases occurred in my time deserving of corporeal punishment, 
except one prisoner who broke jail, and Johannes Rodenburch, who was pardoned by 
the Director. 

6. 
In the taking of informations, he shall exert himself honestly and legally to scrutinize 
matters to the utmost, with all their circumstances, to establish in writing the 
truth thereof in the strictest and purest manner, noting therein, as well the points 
of defence of the prisoners and accused persons, as the accusations against them ; 
provided always that what most concerns the interest of the Company therein 
must first of all be inquired into. 

So far as I have taken information, I have, without boasting, acted honestly and legally 
therein ; the informations, among others, taken by me against Cornells van Tienhoven, who 
hath brought from Holland to this country a young woman named Lysbeth Hoochvelt, under 
promise of marriage, and had carnal conversation with her, both in Holland and on board of 
ship, notwithstanding he has here a married wife; and against the skipper of the Waterhond, in 
which Tienhoven and the above named Lysbeth came over together, for having opened the 
sugar prize rather freely. This, the Director, the Minister Megapolensis and the Director's 
needy Councillors have endeavored and sought to oppose in every way and by all sinister 
practices, and so well were their mouths sweetened out of the said sugar prize, that Tienhoven 
is become so sweet to them that they cannot taste any bitterness in him, for to uphold his 
character they have made him Fiscal; but the poison now making itself manifest in this 
sweetness, it appears that they will experience a heavy and severe purgation. I hope God 
will yet punish the presumption of the notoriously wicked, and the oppression of the innocent 
and guileless. In other cases where the interests of the Hou ble Company were concerned, 
such as, among the rest, that of Cornelis Melyn and the ship the Fortuyn, I must take the 

Vol. I. 64 



500 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

informations of the ship's crew in confinement in the Tavern, according to the draft and order 
of the Director, in the presence of his aforesaid illegal Councillors, and whether I have done 
well or ill, his order must be followed and not be exceeded, so as to avoid trouble and blows. 
Thus, his Honor has to answer for everything. 'Tis not strange that his Honor hath'accused 
me of negligence to the Hon b,e Directors of the Chamber at Amsterdam, as I have understood 
from their despatches ; for his Honor is accustomed to throw his misdeeds on other men's 
heads and to asperse them therewith. Whoso obeys orders, doth well ; though he doth ill, 
'twill be defended in the despatch. 

7. 
He shall strictly cause to be observed the placards, ordinances, resolutions, military 
regulations and commands of the High and Mighty Lords States General and 
the General Incorporated West India Company, and see that nothing be done 
contrary thereto. 

Their High Hightinesses' and the Honorable Company's placards, ordinances, resolutions, 
instructions and commands were never shown to me by the Director, much less was copy 
communicated thereof, but when requested hath always been refused; and it was stated in full 
Assembly on the 4 July, 1650, and afterwards, that the Lords Directors wrote to him not to 
communicate anything either to me or to the Deputy, and to keep all letters secret from us; 
which he hath done. 'Tis a strange and lamentable thing still to continue the Fiscal in this 
manner as Councillor. 

8. 
To this end he shall take good care, and use all diligence in finding out and obtaining 
information of the ill conduct and delinquencies of officers and of all persons who 
are in the general or special pay, by water or on land, of the General Incorporated 
West India Company; for which purpose he shall pay strict regard when the 
Commissaries come to the Manhattans from their trading posts ; Item, when ships 
arrive from or leave for Patria, and to the loading and discharging of the same, 
without neglecting anything in the prosecution of the confiscations, and other 
penalties and fines, whether on the goods or persons of those who shall be at 
any time found guilty, according to our aforesaid Resolutions, ordinances and 
Military regulations, or in default thereof, the written laws directing the 
proceedings and prescribing the style and manner thereof; to the proper 
phraseology of all writings and proofs, until these shall be brought to a 
determination, after which he shall prosecute the same to a conclusion, all in the 
speediest manner without delay to parties. 

I refer to the answer to the G th and 12 lh articles of the general Instruction, as far as I was 
employed, whether in visiting the ships arriving from Patria and returning thither, I have done 
my duty. But divers ships, such as the St. Btni«jo, the hide prize, the Valckcnier, were 
unloaded without me, the Director employing as Inspector, Paulus Leendertsen, late naval 
officer, whom he heretofore pronounced to be an open robber, and who is now one of his Select 
men ; the Director retained the invoices, as Paulus Leendersen also did in the case of the prize 
at Cracos, without my knowledge. The Director and Paulus Leendersen, obtaining goods 
from Holland by the Valckcnier above named ; these must not be put in the store, but be brought 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VI. 507 

to their houses without examination. Neither was I informed of the receipt of the duties on 
the returns of the beavers, &c, the lists of which I could never lay an eye on; this was 
attended to by Jacob Kipp, a clerk, and others w T ho had the receipt thereof, and were appointed 
to that duty by the Director on his own authority. Although I could not get a sight of their 
High Mightinesses' and the Hon ble Company's ordinances, resolutions, instructions and 
commands, I have, nevertheless performed my duty as well as possible and as well as I knew 
how, according to written laws; but to no purpose as regards those whom the Director 
favored or hated. On the smallest pretext, the latter must suffer, as the old Select men who 
were dismissed by the Director, are daily obliged to feel. 

9. 
And in order to enjoy more freedom in all cases, he shall not take from any person 
whomsoever, any salary, pensions or gifts, and shall content himself with the civil 
fines or penalties which shall be adjudged to him ; and as regards the criminal fines, 
confiscations of wages, monthly pay and such like, he shall make no further 
claim than shall be permitted to him at the discretion of our beforementioned 
Director and Council, who should endeavor so to manage thereupon, that the 
Fiscal's part, according to circumstances, shall not exceed for any one person, 25, 
30, or at the utmost 50 guilders. 

I declare never to have received anything to the prejudice of the High and Mighty and 
Noble Lords and Masters, but have been content with whatever the Director and Council have 
allowed me, which was very seldom and little. In respect to criminal fines and confiscations 
of wages, monthly pay and such like, it never happened, except as above. 

10. 
But from prizes or captured goods nothing shall be received or claimed, under any 
pretence by him; he shall only pertinently inform himself of all sorts of prizes 
which may be captured anywhere within his jurisdiction, by the ships or yachts of 
the Company or private persons, of the time, place and persons, nations and causes, 
whereby these should be holden and declared to be good prizes, and obtain all 
accounts regarding the quantity and quality of the captured property, and cause 
the same, after previous valuation, to be declared good prizes by our Director and 
Council there. 

I have neither received nor claimed anything from prizes or captured goods, but the Director 
has to answer for the proceeds thereof; namely, of the prizes at Caracos, the hide prize, the 
three prizes brought by Captain Blauvelt, the Portuguese sugar prize captured last year, 1651, 
by the Walerhond, of which the Director and Cornelis van Tienhoven, with the Lords, have 
disposed according to their pleasure. The Director only allowed me a trifle of sugar. 

11. 

He shall likewise aid in observing that in cases carrying with them loss of life and 
property, the Judges shall be duly qualified, and be at least five in number, and he 
shall equally assist to procure the enforcement of the same rule, wheresoever 
criminal judicature shall be holden thereabout. 



5Q8 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

The Director hath, on his own authority, qualified and admitted as many and such councillors 
as he thought proper; who were under obligations to him, and he well knew would not be 
opposed to him in the occasion of confiscating ships, and who had not capacity to penetrate a 
question, such as his present Select men, who are in his good graces, as they are devoted to 
him ; and whenever 1 contradicted him, I got a growl just as if he would eat me up. 

12. 
In case extensive Colonies shall come there, in order that all may proceed regularly, 
the Commanders of said Colonies thereabouts, shall endeavor that from time to 
time, the judgments delivered within their jurisdiction, whether civil or criminal, 
with the informations and answers taken thereupon shall be sent to him, that he 
may examine and see if any excesses have been committed, and in case of any 
such, to cause the same to be corrected in future ; also if particular malice shall be 
anywhere observed, to proceed as before, on communication earnestly and 
rigorously against the malfeasors. 

I refer to my answers to all the preceding; this article can be satisfied thereby. 

13. 

He shall transmit hither by ships coming here, copies both of the judgments and 
informations sent to him and of those taken and obtained by himself, and allow 
the institution of al-1 judicial acts necessary to defend the same here. 

I have observed this as far as I was able, but the Director must chiefly defend himself. 

14. 
He shall take care that the criminal matters and judgments decided by our said 
Director and Council shall, after communication with them, be promptly executed. 

The Director hath caused the sentences to be executed according to his pleasure, but no 
criminal cases occurred except as related. 

15. 

He shall also take care that such as are in prison with the knowledge of the Director 
and Council aforesaid, shall not remain long thereat the expense of the Company, 
without special cause, but so expeditiously prosecute them, that their trials shall be 
dispatched, and therefore advise the Director and Council as frequently as possible 
what prisoners are in keep at his suit, or otherwise and on what charges. 

The humor of the Director is followed in the apprehending, detaining and discharging of 
prisoners. Whether properly or improperly done, the Director is to answer; according to his 
orders have I acted ; otherwise he would have effectually imprisoned me or bastinadoed me 
with the rattan. 

16. 

In fine, he shall be holden in all places and in all matters to be diligent and faithful, 
as a good and trusty Fiscal is bound and obliged to be, in return for such allowances 
and emoluments as are allowed to him by the Honorable Company. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VI. 509 

In fine, had the Director's pride and imaginary sovereignty not so played the factotum, I 
could have better attended to my office and better satisfied the High and Mighty and Noble 
Lords and Masters in the fulfillment of my instructions, which, indeed I was desirous of doing. 
The emoluments are very trifling, and the payment of the salary has been withheld from me, 
so that I remain with wife and children without earning at present a single stiver. I hope 
and trust that the Lords will be pleased to pay my salary, which I respectfully request. 

17. 
And for the better execution and performance of his duty and office, the Secretary of 
the aforementioned Director and Council shall as we hereby charge him, assist the 
Fiscal, in the taking of any preparatory information, such as judicial acts, and all 
other previous matters and papers in judicio and out of the same, which shall be 
necessary for the performance of his duty. 

Secretary Cornells van Tienhoven, the clerks and other writers in the service of the Hon ble 
Company here, have not been willing to assist me and, as well as the Director, would not 
acknowledge me except in whatever accorded with the Director's humor, nor assist me to 
defend myself against the Director's false accusations made behind my back ; others had a 
taste of the Director's disfavor who were in any way serviceable to me in transcribing or writing, 
for such, as well as myself and the Deputy were esteemed by the Director rebels against the 
government of New Netherland, though entirely innocent, and compassing in my opinion 
nothing else than peace and a united good government. 

18. 
He shall also employ a sworn or such officer as the aforesaid council is accustomed to 
make use of, to serve all such summonses, citations, or any other commands or 
mandamuses necessary to the performance and execution of his office and duty. 

The marshal of the court was at my service according to the pleasure of the Director, but 
when the latter or his council affected displeasure, the officer durst not do any business for me 
or serve any process, in order to retain the Director's good graces. 

19. 

All this provisionally, the Directors of the West India Company reserving to their 
General Assembly of the XIX., these Instructions to add to, or diminish from, 
according to circumstances, or otherwise to* order, as to them shall seem proper. 
Thus done &c. Below was: Agrees with the original, (signed) Gysbert Rudolfi. 

The alteration, diminution or enlarging of this Instruction has never been communicated to 
me, notwithstanding I have repeatedly besought the Lords Masters to be supported in my 
office, on account of the trouble the Director gave me in the performance of my duties. And 
finally I have received from the Hon ble Lords Directors of the Chamber at Amsterdam, a letter 
sent by the Director to my house, from which with sorrow I understand, that the Director 
and others his sycophants, who were lately in Fatherland, receive more credit than the truth 
itself; this will be demonstrated hereafter by the defence against the letter. Though I'm 
neither recalled nor dismissed thereby, the Director hath, nevertheless, discharged me, and in 
my place put his dear, notorious, profligate and perjured Secretary, Cornelis van Tienhoven. 



510 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Lampoon against Director Stuyvesant. 

This circulated Lampoon afforded the Director a pretence to deprive me of 
my office. 

Myn heere Generael. 'Tis impossible for me to conceal from your Honor, that I heard 
you berated and cursed on the 11 th of March at Mr. Fyn's house, as a rogue and a 
tyrant, with many other slanderous defamations, which cut me to the heart. Thou 
art a God appointed of God. I pray you for Christ his sake, to prevent it or I 
shall again come to great misfortune thereby, for I can no longer listen to it, and 
dare not acquaint you of it by word of mouth. Krestman Vyn and two women 
heard it also. I wish the Fiscal would bestir himself. No one is better. Was 
neither signed nor subscribed, nor collated with the discovered scrap, this 2S' b March 
1652 in New Amsterdam. Signed Cor van Tienh : Secret 3 '. 

Respecting the Lampoon. 

Whoso does not call the Director, "General," is not his friend. In all Commissions and 
Patents he styles himself thus: — Petrus Stuyvesant, on the behalf of the High and Mighty 
Lords Slates General, and the General Incorporated West India Company of the United Netherlands, 
Director General of New Netherland, Curacao, Bonaire, Aruba and the dependencies thereof, Captain 
Admiral over the Ships and. Yachts cruizing in the North parts of America. 

The words in the Lampoon, "Thou art a God appointed of God," and the halberdiers whom 
the Director keeps as his body guard, greatly augment his pride. This Christman, who came 
heretofore into the country as Supercargo, was appointed by the Director, clerk to Tienhoven, 
and by his informing and tattling whilst a resident here, hath rendered himself very obnoxious 
to everybody and was strongly suspected of having circulated this Lampoon. Francis, his late Captain 
in Brasil who was here in the year 1G50, and applied, on returning to Fatherland, for my place, 
as some of the Directors know, is also a witness against me, as well as a woman, one widow 
Lammertje by name, with whom Christman cohabited when here, and was to be stewed into a Fiscal 
by the Director and Tienhoven, if the pot be kept closely covered ; these were to have heard 
me curse the Director. 'Tis to be considered whether this be not a conspiracy of these persons 
to drive me from my place. I have frequently said and complained that the Director never 
treated me otherwise than as his boy, and that he allowed Van Tienhoven to deceive him, 
which is well known to all men here, but nothing else. However, what he is, will be best 
known by his defence and report. 

Extract from the Resolution of New Netherland, 2S* March, 1G52. 

The Honorable, the Director General, having submitted at the meeting to the Hon bU 
the Councillors and the summoned Select men, the frequent misbehaviors and 
connivances of Hendrick van Dyck, to this date Fiscal of New Netherland, 
wherefore the said Lord General represents it to be for the advantage of his Lords 
Superiors, and for the public peace and good, to supersede the said person from his 
office and quality, and to audit his account, which is this day done in presence of 
the Hon bl<! Councillors, and undersigned invited Select men. Wherefore, the 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VI. 511 

aforesaid Hendrick van Dyck is dismissed from his office and trust, and notified by 
the Hon b,e Director General in the Assembly, not to trouble himself henceforward 
in such capacity. Thus done in the Assembly, present La Montague, Brian Nuton, 
David Provoost, Willem Beeckman, and Paulus Leendersen van den Grift, this 2S lh 
March, 1G52. In Fort Amsterdam, in New Netherland. Was signed, By order of 
the Hon We the Director, Cornelis van Tienhoven, Secretary. 

The Director here asserts my misbehavior so confidently as if it were not to be gainsaid. I 
have demanded declaration thereof from his Select men, who by their resolution of the 21" 
August, 1652, declare, that no complaints of misbehavior were ever made to them by the 
Commonalty, and that they, themselves, have nothing to say against me or my conversation. 
In respect to his accusation of connivance, it is still worse. -His placards and ordinances, which 
he, himself, violates, he will have me enforce, without being willing to support me therein. 
His Honor deprives me of my office for the good of his Lords Superiors, and for the public 
peace and benefit, as he says : And on his own authority hath appointed and qualified, as Fiscal, 
Cornelis van Tienhoven, who, as already stated, is a public perjurer, and a just to the coxintrtj. The 
Lords and Masters have to consider, whether their service, peace and public welfare is promoted 
thereby, and whether the Director hath thereby secured their Honors' service, peace and the 
public good. The Director here deprives me of my office, with consent of the Hou bl * Council 
and the undersigned invited Select men ; as if they had advised and voted for it. But the 
Select men say, by the abovementioned declaration, that the Director hath done so on his own 
authority, and requested them to consent to it, but that they refused to do so. Thus hath 
Cornelis van Tienhoven, as Secretary, acted faithlessly and falsely in the drawing up and 
publication of resolutions, and he is esteemed by the Director to be the fittest in the country 
for the Hon ble Company's service, as in addition to the office of Fiscal, he holds that of Secretary 
in fact, and Carel van Brugge, that of Secretary in name, for this Englishman is not qualified 
for it, and allows himself to be used by the Director and Tienhoven as an instrument. 

Extract of the Resolution of the date above mentioned. 

The Fiscal, Hendrick van Dyck, appears in the Assembly, where he is informed by the 
Hon b,e Director General, that he, Hendrick van Dyck, hath injured the General in 
his honor and fame, which he hereby expressly denies, and therefore protests 
against his dismissal, and demands copy hereof, and the discovered paper. 1 Done 
as above. Beneath was — Agrees with the Register of Resolutions. 

(Signed) Cornelis van Tienhoven, Secretary. 

In place of Lampoon makers being punished and instead of search being made, as it ought 
to be, to discover them, the Director believes, on the contrary, that the Lampoons are of use to 
him, as in this case, so as the better to play his card. The Director observes indeed here, that 
] have wounded him in his honor and reputation, of which he has long since been bereft ; but 
he does not say that it is demonstrated to him or proved to me, so that his usurped sovereignty 
really smacks of force and violence, and the Lords can judge how matters go here. 

1 which he, Van Dyck, calls a Lampoon. New -York Colonial Records, V. — Ed. 



512 NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Letter of the Hon 1,lc Directors of the West India Company Chamber at Amsterdam, 
to Hendrick van Dyck, Fiscal. 

Honorable, Valiant, Beloved, Faithful. 

We are in receipt of your letters of the 28 th December 1650, 15 lh and 12 ,b September of 
this last year, wherein you complain on the one hand of Cornells Melyn in these 
express words: — that he hath grossly slandered the Hon ble Directors and that it 
were desirable that such rascals had never come there ; and, on the other hand you 
complain of the Director's anger against you. We shall state briefly in answer, 
that the Directors are very little surprised at the calumnies of dishonorable men, 
and it makes little difference whether bad men are there or here, but we had wished 
that as you had such opinion of those people, that you had performed your duty, 
and had in season a strict watch at Staten Island on the ship in which he went 
over, as that was the place where you could fall in with all the contraband goods 
that he hath run on shore there during the night and at unseasonable times; and 
we cannot put such smuggling on any other than your shoulders. 

We know not in what the Director's anger against you consists; yet we suppose 
he does not put you to any inconvenience without great cause. But whilst you are 
free, on your side, to complain, neither can we omit to inform you, sir, of the 
reasons of our dissatisfaction, independent of the complaints of the Director and 
Council respecting your disorderly life and dissolute conversation. We shall 
therefore tell you frankly from the mouths of many honorable people arrived from 
those parts, all of whom declare, that you ordinarily pass your time in drunkenness, 
that you scarcely pay any attention to your office, which we cannot tolerate. Out 
of respect for your friends, many of your faults have been overlooked, but for all 
that, no change for the better has been observed. We are, therefore, constrained 
to recommend you to attend to your bounden duty ; otherwise, we shall be 
obliged to make such provision in the premises as shall be proper. Herewith, we 
commend you Honorable, Beloved, Valiant, Faithful, to God's protection and remain 

Your good friends, 
The Directors of the West India Company, Chamber at Amsterdam, 
Amsterdam, 9 lk April, 1652. (Signed,) F. Schuylenbokch. 

Eduard Man. 
(Addressed) 

Honorable, Valiant, Beloved, Faithful 
Hendrick van Dyck, Fiscal, 
in New Netherland. 

Mr. van Dyck's answer to the preceding Letter. 

My Lords. The complaints I have made, in my quality as Fiscal, against Cornelis Melyn, in 
the despatch of the 2S' h of December 1650, I was obliged to make, as appears by the Journal 
of the Supercargo, for the protection of my Lords and Masters. The complaints in my letters of 
15 th and 12 lh September 1651 of the Director's anger against me, I, to my sorrow, have been 
obliged to make, and you can infer from all the foregoing, whether I had and still have not, 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS : VI. 513 

good reasons to address you in this manner ; I doubt not but 'twill grieve and greatly astonish 
you that there are bad men here and that they administer their government to your injury and 
the vexation of the Commonalty. 'Twere desirable that early provision were made therein. 
The ship with which Melyn came, anchored with the flood before Staten Island about noon, so 
that I could not sail down there much before evening, when I did my best with the watch on the 
ship until she should come up to the harbor, according to the declaration hereunto annexed. 
Had my recommendation to the Director to institute my suit against Melyn and the Skipper 
conjointly been attended to, such disorder had not occurred in the proceedings, nor would the 
judgments of the Director and Council have conflicted with each other. But I had nothing 
to say, but was obliged to do the Director's pleasure. 

'Tis already stated wherein the anger of the Director against me consists, and your Honors 
can conclude whether he was justified in thus ill treating me, and I can show by the 
accompanying certificates that he, on his own authority, expelled me from the service and 
bestowed my office on the perjured Tienhoven. I regret to learn that your Honors are 
displeased with me, inasmuch as you give credit to the reports of my disorderly conduct and 
dissolute life; I am certain that those who informed against me, willingly accept my office 
and are devoted to the Director ; for the latter having labored so hard to remove me, it does 
not appear strange to me that I am unjustly accused and slandered in all manner of ways. 
The loss of time by running about in drunkenness, if it must needs be, and notwithstanding 
the contrary is best known to me, is a trivial circumstance; yea, in my opinion, demonstrates the 
envy and hatred entertained by such informers against me. I willingly acknowledge my 
faults, and pray God daily to remove them and to amend my life. . Such persons with their 
own troubles, and on perceiving their own short comings, might well remain silent. I am fully 
aware that drunkenness ill accords with my office, but 'tis easily remarked in me, yet not in 
Tienhoven ; though he come out of the Tavern so full that he cannot walk, it must be 
hushed. The Director has been so long favored and upheld here by the Company, but with 
what improvement in return, appears hereby. I thank you extremely for the recommendation 
of my bounden duty, assuring you, whenever the Director's violence shall cease, or order shall 
be introduced herein, that I shall demean myself in the discharge of my duty, as an honorable 
Fiscal ought to do; but this is impossible for me under the present administration. 

High and Mighty and Noble Lords. 

The treatment I have experienced here hath given me occasion thus to present my 
gravamina for my vindication, declaring according to proofs &c. confirmed by oath in the 
matters of my office, that the whole is true and truthful ; not doubting, yea, assuring my Lords, 
that the Director's defence of his administration will establish his usurped Sovereign rule, 
and that his unheard of rigorous and passionate proceedings will be confirmed by the complaints 
of the inhabitants, and I trust, that no idle evasions nor frivolous accusations against this one 
and that, will excuse the Director, whilst others who have not eaten of the roast meat are to 
be beaten with the spit. May God preserve the High and Mighty and Noble Lords and 
Masters in a prosperous and pious government. Done New Amsterdam in New Netherland, 
the 16 ,h September, 1652. 

Your Servant at command, 

(Signed) H. van Dyck, Fiscal. 

Vol. I. 65 



514 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Appendix, received Glh December, 1652. 

This day 6 ,h December, 1G51, before me Johannes Vrosse by the Court of Holland admitted 
a Public Notary residing at Amsterdam and in presence of undernamed witnesses personally 
appeared Elizabeth Janns, innkeeper, widow of Bastiaen Nalsman, residing at the Arms of 
Haerlem at the dam ( ocertoom) outside the Holy road gate of this City, aged about 60 years, 
and hath declared by true Christian words, on her conscience in place and under offer of a 
solemn oath, if necessary, at the request of Marritgen Ommers, widow of Jan Franssen Croon 
of Hoochvelt deceased, late basket maker in this city, that he testifies and attests that it is 
true and well known to her that, last winter and in the beginning of this current year 1551, 
without being certain of the precise time, a person named Mr. Cornelis van Tienhoven came 
divers times to the house of the deponent keeping open tavern at the Overtoom aforesaid, with 
Lysbet Janssen Croon of Hoogvelt, daughter of the requirant herein, and have there at different 
times, now and then eaten fish and showed and manifested towards each other great love and 
friendship such as is the custom among sweethearts; moreover, she the deponent on such 
occasions distinctly heard and understood that the abovenamed Van Tienhoven hath 
represented himself as a suitor and a single unmarried person, whereupon she, the witness, said 
to Van Tienhoven, If you be a single man why do you not marry her, (meaning the abovenamed 
Lysbet.) To which question and observation the aforesaid Van Tienhoven hath answered, 
I will not marry in this Country, but so soon as we have arrived in New Netherland, I will 
then marry. Thus done without the City of Amsterdam aforesaid in presence of Mr. Abram 
Caspars and Martyn Luych, witnesses. Subscribed. Quod attestor rogatus Joannis Ckossis, 
TWary Public. 

Upon collation this agrees with its original, dated and signed as above, in New 
Amsterdam in New Netherland. Signed -'J 1 ™^ 1 - D. V. Schelluyne, Notary Public. 
Agrees ( after collation ) with the authentic copy by me. 

(Signed) D. V. Schelluyne, 
Notary Public 1652 A 

Appendix, received 6th December, 1652. 

Singnoor, as I have found good quarters where I have been formerly lodged, be so good as 
to come with the bearer hereof, who will show you the way. I expect you, sir. 

Your humble Friend, 
M r Kip hands you this letter. (Signed) C. V. Tienhoven. 

Upon collation with its original, signed as above, this is found to agree therewith; 
in New Amsterdam, New Netherland, 31 st July, A 1652. Beneath was (signed) 
D. V. Schelluyne, Notary Public. Agrees (after collation by me,) with the authentic 
copy. (Signed) D. V. Schelluyne, Notary Public. 1652 1 - 8 . 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS : VI. 515 

Appendix, received 6/h December, 1652. 

We, the Schout, Burgomasters, Scliepens and Regents of the Hague, make known to each 
and every, that before us came and appeared Louisa Noe, wife of Arien Pietersz: Bock, 
undertaker, inhabitant here, who being duly summoned to give evidence of the truth at the 
request of Maertyn Ommers, widow of John Franssen Croon, of Hooghvelt, in his lifetime 
basket maker, in Amsterdam, and she the deponent declares by solemn oath administered to 
and taken by her, that her declaration or deposition, made before the Notary, Martyn 
Beekman, and certain witnesses, on the viii. December, XVJ C and fifty-one, to be word for 
word true and truthful, as followeth : — 

This day, the viii ,h December, XVI C and fifty-one, before me, Martin Beeckman, admitted 
Public Notary, by the Court of Holland, residing at the Hague, and before the undernamed 
witness appeared Louisa Noe, wife of Arien Pietersz Bock, undertaker, who hath hereby 
certified and declared, pursuant to the letter of Elysabeth van Hooghvelt, written from 
Manathans, in New Netherland, whereby she requests to hear the aforesaid Louisa in this matter, 
and that she speak by her woman's troth, instead of an oath, at the requisition of Martjen 
Ommers, widow of Jan Franssen Croon, of Hooghvelt, in his lifetime basket maker, within the 
city of Amsterdam, that about a year ago, not being certain about the precise date, a certain 
corpulent and thickset person, of red and bloated visage and light hair, who she afterwards 
understood was called Van Tienhoven (and who on her frequently asking him for his name, 
refused to give it), requested her to engage a room for him and a certain young lady or woman, 
as she, the deponent, was accustomed to do. She, according to such- request, first engaged 
and bespoke a room in the Wagesiraat here, which said Thienhoven not liking, he gave her 
three guilders for her trouble, saying he wished a room in a house with a shop. Whereupon 
the deponent says, she was again employed to look up another room, and bespoke one in the 
house of a grocer here in the Poolen, opposite the Bagynesiraat, at the sign of the Universal 
Friend. She, the deponent, says that for her trouble on this second occasion, she received 
from Van Thienhoven, three guilders more. She the deponent, further saith, that before 
bespeaking the room, she inquired of the aforenamed Thienhoven, what relation he stood in 
to the abovenamed woman ; whether she should hire it for a young man or for a married 
person ; that he, Tienhoven, then said, that he was a single man, and that she, the deponent, 
should say, that he had run away with the woman, against the will of her parents, but that 
he intended to marry her on the first opportunity, which he frequently repeated to her, the 
deponent, and that friends were employed to obtain her parents' consent, and that he should 
then marry her. Further, she, the deponent, attesting and declaring that the abovenamed 
person whose name she heard was Thienhoven, came a few days after to her house with the 
aforesaid young woman and complained that Sheriff Pauw had caught him, saying aloud, he 
presumed that she, the deponent, had brought it about; at which, the deponent being 
displeased, she repaired and complained thereof, to the Bailiff who consented to investigate 
the matter. He Thienhoven understanding this, prevailed on him to desist from such 
investigation. She, the deponent, terminating her deposition herewith, offers, if necessary and 
when demanded, to renew and with solemn oath to repeat and affirm all the aforesaid. Thus 
done and executed at the Hague aforesaid, in presence of Jacob Thomass. van Kessel, burgher 
here, and P r Kitsenburgh, being invited hereunto as witnesses, who have signed the minute 



516 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

hereof, with the aforesaid deponent and me, the Notary, at the above date. Below was Quod 
ita esse afferm : and was signed M. Beeckman, Notary Public. In testimony whereof, we 
have confirmed these presents with the impression of our Common City Seal, the second 
March, XVI C and fifty-two, was signed G. Graswinckel. Having on the margin a seal 
impressed in green wax, covered with paper. 

After collation with its orginal, signed and sealed on the date above, is this copy 
found to agree therewith, in New Amsterdam, in New Netherland, on the 31" July, 
A 1652. Signed by me, D. V. Schelluyne. 

Agrees (after collation by me,) with the authenticated copy. 

(Signed) D. V. Schelluyne, Not. Publ k , 1.652^. 

Appendix, received 6 December, 1652. 

We, the Schout, Burgomaster, Schepens and Regents of the Hague, make known to 
each and every, that before us came and appeared Jacob Thomassen van Kessel, burgher and 
inhabitant here, who being duly summoned to testify the truth, on the petition of Maritjen 
Ommers, widow of Jan Franssen Croon, of Hoogvelt, in his lifetime basket maker within the 
city of Amsterdam, and he, the deponent, declares by solemn oath, duly proposed to and taken 
by him, that his declaration or deposition made before the Notary, Martin Beeckman, and 
certain witnesses on the 8 ,b of December, 1651, is true and truthful, as follows: 

This day, the 8 th of December, 1651, before me, Martin Beeckman, Public Notary, admitted 
by the Court of Holland and residing at the Hague, and the undernamed witnesses, appeared 
Jacob Thomassen van Kessel, who, on further request and requisition of Maritjen Ommers, 
widow of the late Jan Franssen Croon of Hoogvelt, in his lifetime basket maker within the 
city of Amsterdam, and agreeably to "the letter of Elizabeth van Hoogvelt, written at the 
Manathans, in New Netherland, the abovenamed Requirant, specially mentioned therein, 
prays, that the deponent should be requested to testify in this matter, as he hath full cognizance 
thereof, who, on his veracity and conscience, instead of oath, hath certified and declared as he 
N. b. doth hereby that it is true, that Secretary van Thienhoven having slept at his house a 

considerable time with a certain Elysabeth van Hooghvell, was caught by the respective sheriffs of 
the Hague; first by Sheriff Paauw and afterwards by Pellenburch, and that when said 
Thienhoven and the aforesaid Elysabeth van Hooghvelt were ejected from his, deponent's 
house, had afterwards gone to a grocery here in the Pooten, opposite the Bagyncstraat, at the 
sign of the Universal Friend ; he, the deponent, giving good reasons for his knowledge of 
the aforesaid, that he hath heard it all from the mouth of the abovenamed Thienhoven 
when the latter opened his heart to him, at the time he returned once in a while to sleep at 
his, deponent's house; he did, also, learn particularly from said Thienhoven's mouth, that he 
ivas obliged to pay to the abovenamed two Sheriffs, as a fine, the sum of eighty-two Rix dollars, in two 
several divisions, because he had been caught with the abovenamed Elysabeth van Hooghvelt; 
and that over and above the two divisions of the above fine, he, Thienhoven, had provided 
some oysters and a drink for the two Sheriffs, Paauw and Pellenburgh, abovenamed ; he, 
Thienhoven, having repeatedly told him, the deponent, that he, Thienhoven, should have been 
thus fined, had he kept in his lodgings in his, the deponent's house, which was then the Three 
Little Doves, and was situate at the Sluice ; he, Thienhoven, having said, that he was sorry for 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VI. 5X7 

having been ejected from his, the deponent's house. The deponent terminating his statement 
here, oilers at all times when necessary and requested, to renew, and by solemn oath affirm the 
same. Thus done and executed at the Hague aforesaid, in presence of Willem Janssen and 
Hendrick Jacobse, hereunto invited witnesses, who the minute hereof remaining with me have 
signed with the deponent, the day, month and year as above. Beneath was — With which 
minute this punctually agreed. Quod attestor; and was subscribed M. Beeckman, Notary 
Public. And whereas men are bound, when required to give testimony of the truth, we have, 
therefore, confirmed this with an impression of our Common City Seal, on the second March, 
A° 1652, was signed G. Graswinkel ; having on the margin a seal impressed on green wax, 
covered with paper. 

After collating with its original, signed and sealed as above, this copy is found to 
agree therewith. New Amsterdam, in New Netherland, 31" July, A° 1652, was 
signed by me, D. V. Schelluyne, Notary Public. 

Agrees, after collation by me, with the authenticated copy. 

(Signed) D. V. Schelluyne, Notary Public, 1652 &. 

Appendix, received 6 December, 1652. 

This day, the 11 th December A 1651, before me Martin Beeckman Public Notary admitted 
by the Court of Holland residing at the Hague, and before the undernamed witnesses, 
appeared Margareta van Eeda, widow of Isaack Portus, at that time Tavern Keeper in old 
Haerlem at the Sluice here, who hath declared and testified upon her veracity and conscience 
instead of oath, at the request of Maritjen Ommers, widow of deceased Jan Franssen Croon of 
Hooghvelt, in his lifetime basket maker at Amsterdam ; that over a year ago there came to 
lodge at her house a likely person, of ruddy face, corpulent body and having a little wen on 
the side of his cheek who she afterwards understood was from New Netherland, having with 
him a woman towards whom he evinced great friendship and love, calling her always, Dearest, 
and conversing with her as man and wife are wont to do, sleeping in one bed, so that she, 
deponent, did not know but that they were married people, having treated and regarded them 
as honest folks, whom she placed at her table along with other honest and decent persons, and 
had she considered them anything else, she would not have received them ; and said person 
being very particular would make conditions, some days after, to eat with her at noon and 
in the evening, and to have two rooms ; one of which his Dear should occupy, when some 
gentlemen and friends came to speak with and inquire for him, and another in which such 
people could be received and entertained, but that they could not agree upon the price; 
whilst hesitating to give anything for such treatment, they were ejected from her house, 
and went to the Pooten, to a grocery at the sign of the Universal Friend, opposite the 
Bagynestraat. She, the deponent, further declares, that the above named person came 
repeatedly afterwards to her house, among the rest, late one evening, a few days after he had 
gone from her house; he came with his abovenamed Dear, and going up to a room where he 
asked for a fire and a drink, he complained to her, deponent, that he was affronted and caught 
by the Sheriffs and must satisfy them, saying, moreover, that he had wished he had remained 
at her house ; the woman whom he called Dearest, asking, in addition whether the Sheriffs had 
any business to interfere with free people. Whereupon she, the deponent, inquired whether 



518 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

they were married people, and that the abovenamed person answered: We are not yet 
married. Finally, deponent offers to renew and confirm her abovewritten declaration by oath 
if needs be and is requested. Thus done and executed at the Hague aforesaid, in presence of 
Willem Janssen and Hendrick Jacobsen who are invited as witnesses hereunto, who, with 
the deponent and me the Notary have signed the minute hereof remaining in my hands, 
on the day, month and year above written. Signed. Quod affirmo. M. Beeckman Notary 
Public. Beneath was : — 

After collation with its original dated, and signed as above, this copy is found to 
agree therewith. In New Amsterdam in New Netherland the 31 July anno 1G52. 
By me (Signed) D. V. Schelluyne Notary Public. 

Agrees (after collation by me,) with the authenticated copy. 

(Signed) D. V. Schelluyne, Notary Public. 1652iV- 



Resolution of the States General referring the preceding Defence. 

[ From the Register of West India Affairs, 1652 — 1663, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Friday, 6 ,h December, 1652. 
Fo«o 43. Received a letter from Fiscal van Dyck, written in Manhatans, the 18 th of 

Fiscal van Dyct. g e p temDer i as t, complaining of Director P. Stuivesant, which being considered, 
New Netherland. it is resolved and concluded, that the aforesaid letter shall be placed in the hands 
of Mess" de Huygeus and others, their High Mightinesses' Deputies for the affairs of the West 
India Company, to inspect, examine and report. 



Resolution of the States General on a Memorial of the Patroon of Rensselaerswych. 

[ From the Register of West India Affairs, 1652 — 1663, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Friday, 20 ,h December, 1G52. 
Foiio a. Read at the Assembly the petition of Johan van Renselaer, Patroon, Mr. 

Johan de Laet and the widow and heirs of the late Samuel Blommaert, co-director of the 
colonists in New colonie named Renselaerswyck, in New Netherland, containing divers points, and 
Nethermnd. among others complaints against Director Stuyvesant. Which being considered, 

it is resolved and concluded, that the aforesaid petitions be placed in the hands of Mess" Turk 
and the other, their High Mightinesses' Deputies for the affairs of the West India Company, to 
iuspect, examine and report thereon. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VII. 519 

Resolution of the States General referring Memorial of the Patroon of Rensselaerswyck. 

[ From the Register of West India Affairs, 1652 — 1663, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Saturday, the 2S th December, 1652. 
Folio 44. Read the report of Mess" Turk and others, their High Mightinesses' Deputies 

oioni»ts in New f° r tne affairs of the West India Company, pursuant to their resolution of the 
20 ,h instant, having inspected and examined the petition presented on the same 
day to their High Mightinesses in the name and on the behalf of Johan van Renselaer, 
Patroon, Mr. Johan de Laet, and the widow and heirs of the late Samuel Blommaert, 
co-directors of the colonie named Renselaers-wyck, in New Netherland, containing divers 
points, and among the rest, complaints against Director Stuyvesant. Which being considered, 
it is resolved and concluded, that the aforesaid petition shall be sent to the Chamber of the 
West India Company at Amsterdam, to give information to their Higli Mightinesses thereupon, 
within the space of 2 days from the receipt of the letter, or to send hither some one of their 
body for that purpose. 



States General to the Chamber at Amsterdam. 

[ From the Register of Uitgegane Brieven of the States General, in the Rojal Archives at the Hague. ] 

To the Directors of the West India Company at the Chamber at Amsterdam. 

The States, etc. 
Folio 402. Honorable, etc. You will perceive from the accompanying petition which we 

have resolved hereby to send you, what Johan Renselaer, Patroon, Mr. Johan de Laet and the 
. , . . widow and heirs of the late Samuel Bloemasrt, co-directors of the Colonie called 

Colonie named ' 

Eensiaerawyck. Renselaerswyck, situate in New Netherland, have represented to us, requesting 
and requiring that within the space of two days from the receipt hereof, you will communicate 
to us information thereupon, or else send some person hither on your behalf for that purpose. 
Relying thereupon, etc. Done 2S ,b December, 1652. 



Chamber at Amsterdam to the States General. 

[ Register of Ingekomen Britten, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

High and Mighty Lords. 

Folios. We yesterday duly received your High Mightinesses' letter of the 2S lh instant, 

Patroon and co-di- together with the petition of the Patroon and co-proprietors of the Colonie 

rectors of the Colo. ° * • ■ 1 1 

me Eenseiaenwjk. Renselaers-wyck thereunto annexed. In answer to which we shall provisionally 



520 NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

observe, that we immediately gave orders to examine the aforesaid petition, point by point, 
and to draw up accordingly a rescript thereupon as far as will be necessary for the defense 
of the Company's right; then as the points set forth against us are very numerous, and 
necessitate the examination and review of divers papers and documents, we have hereby 
humbly to submit to you, High and Mighty, that 'tis impossible not only to accomplish this 
in two days, but to have it done even in two weeks. We, therefore, respectfully request that 
ample time be afforded us, to make answer unto all according to demand and circumstances, 
the rather as the aforesaid Patroon and co-directors suffer no prejudice herein, the ship having 
sailed eight days ago for New Netherland, and as no opportunity will offer until the spring, in 
the month of April or May, when the vessels are accustomed to take their departure for that 
quarter. Relying thereupon, we shall, 

High and Mighty Lords, etc. 

Your High Mightinesses' Servants, 
The Directors of the West India Company, Chamber at Amsterdam. 

Amsterdam, this 31 December, 1652. (Signed) Eduard Man. 

Received, 2 January, 1653. Isaack van Beeck. 



Resolution of the States General on ilie preceding Letter. 

[From the Register of West India Affairs, 1652 — 1663, in the Royal Archives at the Hague.] 

Thursday, 2 January, 1653. 
F0H045. Received a letter from the Directors of the West India Company, Chamber at 

Amsterdam, written there the 31 st December last, in answer to their High Mightinesses' letter 
of the 2S lh of said month, with intelligence that it was impossible for them to furnish their 
colonists in New High Mightinesses, within the space of 2 days, the requisite information on the 
petition of the Patroon and co-directors of the Colonie Renselaerswyck, requesting, 
therefore, that proper time be afforded them to give an answer upon all points according to 
demand and circumstances. 

Whereupon no action was taken. 



Chamber at Amsterdam to the States General. 

[ From the Original in the Royal ArehiTes at the Hague ; file West Indie, ] 

High and Mighty Lords. 

After we received on the 30 lb December last your High Mightinesses' letter of the2S lh of the 
same month, and briefly and provisionally submitted on the following day to your High 
Mightinesses that it would be impossible for us to give an answer within the space of two days 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VII. 521 

to the petition presented to you, High and Mighty, hy Jolian van Renselaer, patroon, Mr. Johan 
de Laet and the widow and heirs of Samuel Blommaert, co-directors of the colonie, named 
Renselaers-wycU, we daily occupied ourselves in the examination of the aforesaid petition and 
in comparing with it what the Director General of New Netherland has addressed to us hy 
letters, and also what was received by reports and informations of other qualified and reliable 
persons. So large a quantity of these papers had to be examined that we have not been 
prepared, before now, to send your High Mightinesses the requisite information ; herein we 
have avoided taking notice of anything except solely what was required by the aforesaid 
information and some circumstances connected with said points ; reserving the further deduction 
of this, and of the right which we claim therefrom on and against the aforesaid Patroon 
and co-directors, to a future opportunity, when your High Mightinesses will be pleased 
either to cause this matter to be examined by deputies, or to let it be determined in due course 
of proceeding and to summon both parties in order that deliberation may be had thereupon 
velo levato, and that it may be disposed of with full knowledge of the circumstances in such 
wise as to its merits shall appertain. 

Had not the aforesaid Patroon and co-directors so great an itching to dispute continually 
with the Board in this country, as their servants do with those of the Company in New 
Netherland, it had been unnecessary to trouble your High Mightinesses with this matter, and 
to interrupt your most important deliberations with these sought-for disputes. For even if 
those of the aforesaid Colonie in New Netherland had imagined that they are not always 
treated by the Company's Director General and Council according to their phantasy, 
nevertheless, the aforesaid Patroon and co-directors should — yea they were in duty bound — 
not to apply so directly to your High Mightinesses nor enter their complaints, for the most 
part of an odious character, and sometimes contrary to the truth, both against the said Director 
General and the Board of Managers, inasmuch as such a course, in our opinion, must not be 
adopted except the aforesaid complaints be not received nor redressed by the Company in this 
country; and then with such respect and decency as a vassal justly owes to those from whom 
he hath received his benefice. As this duty has not been observed in this instance we intend, 
in its proper time, to draw from that and other acts, which are not free from felony, such 
conclusions as, perhaps, will not be entirely pleasing to the aforesaid Patroon and co-directors- 
Suffice it at present, that we say, and with truth, that they are not willing to wait for any 
satisfaction ; and that they, having caused a certain written notice to be delivered to our 
Assembly, did not once think it worth their while to ask for an answer, much less for any 
conference in the premises. This, however, we do not allege as if with a view to create 
difficulty in order to demonstrate our right to your High Mightinesses, but merely to let these 
people know, that 'twas just as well not to expostulate with so much vehemence against those 
whom they are bound to honor, and of whose favor they daily stand in need; and that they 
maybe advised, that, from such proceedings, they have nothing to expect but that the Company 
will insist on its right, without henceforward granting any further indulgence, as they pretend 
that their Freedoms were not observed with precision. We cannot deny but complaints have 
been heretofore made and even sent into the Assembly of the Nineteen by the Patroon, but 
never by the co-directors; the latter cannot be ignorant why an answer was not given to those 
complaints. We could, if necessary, readily adduce the reason thereof for our justification did 
we not prefer to leave unattacked the memory of their predecessors herein, and we know not 
whether we had ever been cited before your High Mightinesses' Deputies on the subject of the 
Vol. I. 60 



522 



NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 



aforesaid complaints. If such has been the case, we doubt not but we have satisfied your High 
Mightinesses, and shall willingly refer ourselves in the premises to your knowledge thereof. 
We readily confess we cannot perceive how the alleged acts of the Director General can be 
called attacks, unless the Patroon and co-directors had judged that the best course to adopt 
was to take up the case de piano and without any examination, because such would indeed be 
the most profitable for them who otherwise have no right; but as it is unauthorized by your 
High Mightinesses, we hope 'twill not be of any weight. And as we, in accordance with 
preceding submissions and resolutions, acknowledge your High Mightinesses herein as judges, 
so we, likewise, promise that we shall not attempt anything prejudicial to your commands 
whose authority we have always acknowledged and observed with more respect than even 
those of this Colonic, which shall be made apparent in the deduction of the case at the proper 
time. We only pray your High Mightinesses to be pleased to provide that no conclusion be 
taken herein to the prejudice of the Company without full knowledge of the case ; and with 
this view, that a plan be adopted on which your High Mightinesses will decide this suit shall 
be ordered, prosecuted and determined. Wherewith ending, 

High and Mighty Lords, we shall pray Almighty God for the uninterrupted success of your 
High Mightinesses' prosperous government. 

Your High Mightinesses' humble servants, 
The Directors of the West India Company, at the Chamber at Amsterdam, 



Amsterdam this 15 ,h January, 



Received l? lh Janu 



ary, 



1653. 



A BR. WlLMERDONX. 

Eduakd Man. 



Appendix, received 17 January, 1653. 



Points extracted from the petition of 
the Patroon and co-directors of the 
Colonie Renselaers-Wyck. 



Remarks by the Chamber at Amsterdam 
on the annexed Points. 



First. Coming into the Colonie of Renselaers Directors are truly ignorant of the place 

Wyck aforesaid, and there causing the Peti- where the Petitioners' flag was pulled down, 

tioners' flag to be hauled down in opposition and consequently cannot furnish any informa- 

to the will and protest of their officers. tion on this point, unless on further advice. 



Secondly. Publishing there, by placard, that 
timber might be cut in, and removed from, 
the Petitioners' woods, without the knowledge 
of the Petitioners or their officers, or applying 
to them on the subject. 



This placard is published at the place where 
the Company exercises jurisdiction, and the 
woods from which the timber was to betaken, 
are so defined that no person can be in any 
wise injured by removing such timber; also, 
no one hath legally any pretention thereupon. 



Thirdly. Publishing, as aforesaid, that the 
right of jurisdiction and of soil appertained to 
the aforesaid Company to the extent of one 



The title of Fort Orange existed in the Com- 
pany long before the Colonie Renselaers- 
Wyck was ever granted, and the limits of the 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS : VII. 



523 



hundred and fifty rods around the aforesaid aforesaid Colonie were consequently computed 

trading house causing the same to be staked above and below the fort. The Petitioners 

off by the Petitioners' own inhabitants whom were afterwards precario allowed to come under 

they conveyed over to the aforesaid Colonie at the cannon of the fort, in order to be secure 

great expense, notwithstanding the ground from the insolence of the Indians. No title 

was bought by the Petitionersfrom the previous can accrue from this. How far the limits of 

owners, and is notoriously their property, a fort ought to be computed, the Directors will 

together with the jurisdiction there, thus hereafter willingly examine, 
depriving the Petitioners of their right, and a 
small bouwerie. 

4. 
Fourthly. Releasing the Petitioners' subjects 
there inherited from the oath taken to the 
Petitioners and its consequences, and binding 
them by an oath to the aforesaid Company. 

5. 

Fifthly. Conceding on a ground rent the 
lands and lots aforesaid taken from the 

Petitioners, attempting to make there a village, On the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh points, 

already called Bevers-Wyck. the Directors ignore and consequently deny, 

in good faith, that anything was done against 

6. the Petitioners' subjects ; but these people are 

Sixthly. Erecting a court of justice in the free inhabitants, bound in no way to those of 

aforesaid trading house. the Colonie. 



Seventhly. Forming from the inhabitants of 
the aforesaid Colonie, a company of men as it 
were of the said West India Company, whom 
they incite not only against their fellow 
inhabitants, but also against their lawful Lords 
and the contracts entered into with them. 

8. 

Eighthly. Releasing on his arrival at the As far as we know, this person was not 

Manhatans,GerardtSwart, who wassent Sheriff released by the oath taken to the Company, 

to the aforesaid Colonie, from the oath taken to from the oatli previously taken to the Petition- 

the Petitioners, and forcing him to take an ers, but remains bound to both in their 

oath to the aforesaid Company. respective qualities. 



Ninthly. Requiring communication of the The Petitioners are expressly bound by the 
rolls, protocols, sentences, resolutions and Freedoms to make this communication, and it 



suits relating to the Colonie and its affairs. 



was accordingly well and legally demanded. 



524 



NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 



10. 

Tenthly. Causing, by force, the bell in the 
house of the Director of the aforesaid Colonie, 
to be rung by Johannes Dyekman, Commis- 
sary at the aforesaid trading house, assisted 
by soldiers with loaded muskets, burning 
match and open pans, for the purpose of 
publishing the aforesaid pretensions. 

11. 

Eleventhly. Arresting within the Petition- 
ers' jurisdiction, with eight armed men, Brant 
van Slichtenhorst, the aforesaid Director of 
the Colonie, and so bringing him to the 
Manhatans, and there detaining him. 

12. 

Twelfthly. Giving notice that he shall 
demand tenths of the planks and other of the 
Colonie's revenue. 

1o 
O. 

Thirteenthly. Attempting to take possession 
of the cannon belonging to the Petitioners on 
Beren Island, refusing to restore the same. 

14. 

Fourteenthly. Allowing and permitting emi- 
grants from the aforesaid Colonie, to sell 
articles of contraband to the Indians. 



As the Director of the Colonie refused, on 
being asked, to voluntarily permit this publi- 
cation to be made, it became necessary to take 
assured order therein. 



15. 

And fifteenthly. By means of the aforesaid 
pretended right, which he exercises there, de- 
priving the Petitioners of the power of enforcing 
due payment from their debtors, or their bail. 



This mode of proceeding became finally 
absolutely necessary, in order to obviate and 
prevent this individual's intolerable insolences, 
perverseness and vexations. 



Inasmuch as the years of exemption are 
long since expired, the Company must finally 
look to the collection of their rights. 

The Directors wish first of all to know, 
what right the Petitioners have to lay claim to 
Beren Island. 



All inhabitants, and especially those of the 
fort, are by recent placards forbidden to sell 
articles of contraband, but as it was thought 
that the strict observance of that law would 
be construed unfavorably by the Indians, it 
was at the request, and for the interest of the 
Colonie, allowed that now and then something 
might be sparingly permitted with the know- 
ledge of the Director. 

This is expressly denied ; on the contrary, 
good order is provided in such case in the 
instruction for the court of justice. 



Now follow the Points against the Patroon and co-directors, whereupon 
satisfaction shall be demanded from them: 

Those of the Colonie Renselaerswyck, have far exceeded the limits granted them by the 
Freedoms, and were consequently again required duly to fix the boundaries aforesaid, and to 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VII. 525 

cause the place of beginning and the point of termination thereof, to be recorded at the 
Company's office, or else the Company will be obliged itself to take order therein. 

Those of the Colonie aforesaid have endeavored, against all law and contrary to the good 
intention of the Company, to establish a monopoly of the trade throughout the entire North 
river, both within and without their limits, and for that purpose obstruct and prevent other 
individuals engaged in the trade. 

They caused their people to promise not to permit any ship or vessel to sail by or pass a 
certain house called Kenselaers Steyn, but to bring them all to. 

And with this view claiming certain unfounded staple-right. 

In like manner, they would extort from divers private persons a duty of 7 stivers on each 
beaver, and five per cent on other goods, making use, in support of this and other claims, 
of some guns and firing with them through the sails of passing craft. 

Those of the Colonie have tried by indirect and undue means to deprive the Company of 
Fort Orange, and afterwards to concede and build on the lots situate thereabout, to the 
prejudice of the aforesaid fort, contrary to notice and protests. 

They have presumed to give private persons commissions to trade to the coast of Florida. 

They have enacted and published divers ordinances not only without the knowledge and 
communication of the Company, but even to the direct prejudice of its service: among 
the rest — 

That none shall be at liberty to remove, under the Company from the Colonie, under pain 
of corporal punishment, forfeiture of goods, and to be banished as perjurers. 

They forbid, even on pain of corporal punishment, any wood to be cut or hauled for those 
of Fort Orange, and a certain man named Claes Jansen of Boeckhoven was by great favor 
amerced in a fine of 50 guilders solely because he had carted some firewood for one Lambert 
van Valckenburg, an inhabitant of the aforesaid Fort. 

They forbid their Colonists to pay their debts to those of the aforesaid Fort. 

The prohibit appeals from judgments above 50 guilders, which are, therefore, appealable. 

They refuse extracts of their proceedings and judgments. 

Likewise, they will not permit any benefit to accrue from any writs of appeal, which are now 
and then granted, nor suffer the Director and Council's proclamations to be published and 
posted, but forcibly snatch them out of the marshals' hands and tear off the seals. 

And in case the aforesaid writs or other summons are executed and served by aid of the 
Company's power, the summoned parties are incited not to appear. 

The oath which the Colonists are obliged to take, is in some points seditious and mutinous, 
and acknowledges neither their High Mightinesses nor the Company. 

Moreover, those of the Colonie have never made a report of the condition of their 
circumstances, as they, nevertheless, are obliged, annually, to do. 

In like manner, they have never communicated the instructions drawn up by the 
Patroon and co-directors on the subject of the government of the Colonie ; whence has arisen. 

Great insolence and tyranny on the part of some of their commandants towards 
the inhabitants; 

Intolerable protests, insults, threats, vexations and challenges against the Company's 
Ministers. 

And finally, a general disobedience of all the Company's commands and ordinances, even to 
that degree that they will not suffer the Director and Council to issue a proclamation for a 
day of humiliation and prayer in the Colonie, as was done for the entire of New Netherlaud. 



526 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Resolution of the States General referring the preceding Letter, &c, 

[From the Register of West India Affairs, 1652 — 1663, in the Royal Archives at the Hague.] 

Friday, 17 ,h January, 1653. 

Folio 47. Received a letter from the Directors of the West India Company, Chamber at 

Amsterdam, written there on the 15 ,h inst. And, pursuant to their High Mightinesses' letters 

of the 2S th December last, also information on the points contained in the petition of the 

„, . , „ Patroon and co-directorsof theColonieRenselaerswyck. Whereupon deliberation 

Colonists of New " * 

Netheriand. being had, it is resolved and concluded that the aforesaid letters, together with 

the annexed information shall be placed in the hands of the Messrs. Huygens and other their 
High Mightinesses' Deputies for the affairs of the West India Company, for inspection, 
examination and report. 



Resolution of the States General on the Report of the foregoing Committee. 

[ From the Register of West India Affairs, 1652 — 1663, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Thursday, 6 ,h February, 1653. 
Folio 49. Heard the report of the Messrs. Huygens and other their High Mightinesses' 

Deputies for the affairs of the West India Company, pursuant to the resolution of the 17 ,h 
colonists of New January last, having inspected and examined the letter of the Directors of the 
Netheriand. West , |)dia (j ornpan y Chamber of Amsterdam, written there on the 15 th of 

the same month and also, in obedience to their High Mightinesses' resolution of the 2S lh 
December last, information on the points contained in the petition of the Patroon and co- 
directors of the Colonie called Renselaers Wyck. Whereupon deliberation being had, it is 
resolved and concluded that copy of the aforesaid letter shall be placed in the hands of the said 
Patroon and co-directors, to reply thereunto. 



Resolution of the States General on Fiscal van DycJcs charges against Sluyvesant. 

[ From the Register of West India Affairs, 1652 — 1663, In the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Monday, 10 th February, 1653. 
Folio eo. Having heard the report of their High Mightinesses' Deputies for the affairs of the 

West India Company, who pursuant to the resolution of the 6 th December, 1652, further 
New Netheriand. inspected and examined the letter of fiscal Dyck, written at the Manathans on 
the lS ,h September last, containing various complaints, and amongst others, against Director 
Director. Stuyvesant, it is, upon deliberation resolved and concluded that copies of the 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VII. 527 

aforesaid letter and appendices shall be sent to the presiding Chamber of the West India 
Company, in order that pertinent information may be furnished their High Mightinesses on the 
contents thereof. 



Resolution of the States General on a Petition of the Proprietors of Rensselaerswyck. 

[ From the Register of West India Affairs, 1652 — 1663, in the Royal Archives at the Ilague. ] 

Thursday, 20 ,h February, 1653. 
Foiio 51. The petition of Johan van Renselaer, Patroon, Mr. Johan de Laet and the widow 

ColonUts in New j , » rii <t, , t-» t i. 

Netiieriand. and heirs ot the late bamuel Blommaert, co-directors of the Colonie called 

Renselaerswyck in New Netherland, against the Directors of the West India Company at 
the Chamber at Amsterdam, being read in the Assembly, it is after deliberation resolved and 
concluded, that the aforesaid petition shall be placed in the hands of the Mess" Huygens 
other their High Mightinesses' Deputies for the affairs of the West India Company, in order to 
inspect, examine and report on them, to the end that the same being heard and considered, 
such disposition be made thereon as shall be found proper. 



Resolution of the States General. 

[ From the Register of the Resolutions of the States General, in the Royal Archives at the Ilague. ] 

Tuesday, 4 March, 1653. 
Folio 193. The petition of Nicolaes Anthony, Notary here in the Hague, as agent and 

u,e n v™ "w '»«' attorney of the owners of the ship named the Nicuw Nctherlandtsche Fortuyn, 
tandsc/u, Fortuyn. p ra yj n g a wr it of appeal from a judgment pronounced in New Netherland, being 
read to the Assembly, it is after deliberation resolved and concluded, that nothing can be done 
in the matter of the aforesaid petition. 



Resolution of the States General. 

[ From the Register of West India Affairs, 1632 — 1663, In the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Thursday, 10 ,h April, 1653. 

Foiio59. The petition of Mr. Hendrick van der Capelle tot Ryssel, ordinary Delegate to 

Mr ii-nnrick van their High Mightinesses' Assembly, being read, complaining of a certain judgment 

de capeiie. pronounced in New Netherland to his prejudice, who prays on the contrary for 

writ of appeal, with inhibitory and defensive clause and relief against the indebite interjection, 



528 NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

the issue and prosecution of aforesaid appeal, together with injunction directed against 
Director Stuyvesant, Wilet his attorney and all others who will make themselves party 
herein, all in due form: Whereupon deliberation being had, it is hereby resolved and 
concluded, to grant the aforesaid request and accordingly the required writ shall be dispatched. 
The Deputies from the province of Zealand have hereupon given notice that they have no order 
to consent to the grant of writ of appeal from judgments pronounced in the West Indies or 
within the West India Company's district. 



Writ of Appeal in favor of Mr. van der Capelle. 

[ From the Acte-Boek of the States General, in the Royal Archires at the Hague. ] 

Writ of Appeal sued out by Mr. Henrick van der Capelle tho Ryssel against 
Director Stuyvesant cum suis, with clause of injunction. 

Folio 31. The States General of the United Netherlands. To the High Constable or 

Marshal itnpowered to serve ; also to the Notary or such other person whether public or 
private, as shall be hereunto required, Greeting: Be it Known: That we have received 
the petition of Jonckheer Henrick van der Capellen tho Ryssel, Lord of Esselt and Hasselt and 
ordinary deputy in our Assembly from the principality Gebre and County of Zutphen, setting 
forth in substance, that he had, in the year XVI C fifty, with God's help, and pursuant to the 
charter and amplification thereof granted to the stockholders of the West India Company, 
undertaken to settle a Colonie on Staten Island, in New Netherland ; that he had thereunto, 
engaged seven farmers with a superintendent and carpenter, now deceased, with women, 
children and servants in number exceeding twenty, but by him augmented to seventy persons ; 
and that he was advised by Patroons and Merchants to purchase a ship for that purpose with 
an offer to take one-half interest thereof, which a worthy merchant at Amsterdam, named 
Gerrit van den Voorde and partners did; having thus purchased one-half the ship called the 
Nicuw Netherlandschc Forluyn, according to the deed of sale executed before the Burgomasters 
and Regents of the city of Amsterdam, dated the eighteenth May XVl c and fifty; which being 
equipped, the said farmers were sent over with their farming implements and some goods, to 
be sold and used there for their support; this vessel having arrived in New Netherland after a 
difficult voyage was confiscated, together with its cargo, by Petrus Stuyvesant the Director 
of that quarter, on a pretended judgment of the two and twentieth of April XVT C one and 
fifty, under pretext of some fraud said to have been committed, though denied by Cornells 
Melyn, who went over in said ship and was found to have complained to us of the 
exorbitant government of said Director, and on that account, esteemed his greatest enemy. 
And though the fiscal had, at the suggestion of the Director, instituted his action at first 
against the aforesaid Melyn, he was cast at that time, but yet, in order to attain his object, he 
subsequently sued the skipper and by collusion and want of defence, obtained the required and 
previously fabricated confiscation on the same forced and contradictory evidence which he had 
produced against Melyn, although by the said pretended judgment, the skipper was declared 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VII. 529 

entirely innocent, and to have been overruled, and was allowed his recourse against Melyn, 
against whom lie, the Director, caused execution to issue also on account of his default (redid), 
and his houses and lots at the Manhatans to be sold, and, by an unheard of stratagem, hath made 
himself master of, and appropriated, not only the aforesaid ship and goods, but also the 
proceeds of the aforesaid houses and lots — the ship having been, pursuant to the aforesaid 
pretended sentence, sold to one Thomas Wilet, a merchant residing at Plymouth, in New 
England and on her arrival here, was seized by the appellant, who in the prosecution of that 
seizure is obstructed by the aforesaid judgment. The fact being, that he, Mr. van der Cappellen, 
not in the capacity of a merchant, but as Patroon, in Staten Island, had sent the said ship 
thither, as stated, with only his farmers and what was necessary for their support, and nothing 
more ; moreover, was not guilty, nor accused, of any fraud, and consequently flagrant force and 
violence were committed against him in the withholding and seizing his ship and goods 
aforesaid ; the said pretended judgment, being, also, null and unjust in itself, both in regard of 
the Council mentioned therein, whereof one is a Frenchman and the other an Englishman, 
with exclusion of the Vice-Director Dincklagen, and of the Select men, three only of whom 
were present instead of nine, who ought to have assisted ; all contrary to the Commission and 
Instruction prescribed to him, the Director, by us, for the administration of justice, and upon 
which he hath taken his oath; in addition whereunto, the aforesaid judgment was pronounced 
on untrue, false, yea self-contradictory data, as he, the appellant, will, at his own timet 
sufficiently prove. And, inasmuch as he, Mr. van der Cappellen, has been most seriously 
injured and endamaged, contrary to the aforesaid Charter and Freedoms of New Netherland, 
granted by us to the stockholders of the West India Company, Patroons and Colonists there, 
of which and of the infringments thereon, arising between the judge and the Patroons, 
cognizance and adjudication belong exclusively to us, and as we have taken cognizance of, and 
granted writ of appeal in, similar cases, he, therefore, trusts, as no person can be denied justice 
in the United Provinces, that it will be accorded also to him ; he constitutes himself 
accordingly for himself and the aforesaid Van de Voorde cum mis, appellant from the aforesaid 
pretended judgment and forcible execution consequent thereupon, respectfully requesting that 
he may to this end, be granted writ of appeal with inhibitory and prohibitory clause, also 
relief against the indebit interjection, with issue and prosecution of aforesaid appeal; 
also, order directed to the aforesaid Stuyvesant, Wilet, his agent, and all others who would 
make themselves a party herein ; all in due form. Which being considered, we, therefore, 
require and command you, thereunto, hereby commissioning you, that at the request of the 
said Mr. Henrick van der Capelle tho Ryssel and Gerrit van de Voorde cum suis, you do, in our 
name, summon the aforesaid Director Stuyvesant, his councillors aforesaid and in the judgment 
mentioned, Wilet, his agent, and all others who would make themselves party herein, to come 
and appear, or to send attorneys at a suitable day before us here in the Hague, to sustain and 
defend the aforesaid judgment and its contents, or to renounce the same if they think well ; to 
see and hear it adjudged null, void and of no effect, and therefore to amend and correct it 
according to law, if such be proper; to answer such demand as the aforesaid Mr. van der 
Capelleu tho Ryssel and Gerrit van de Voorde cum suis, on the day indicated will make 
in order that parties being heard, such remedy in justice and even grace, if necessary, 
may be by us provided, as shall be found pertinent. Further strictly forbidding and 
commanding in our name, the aforesaid respondents and all others whom it may concern, on 
certain heavy penalties, that they, pending the case in appeal, do not do, attempt, nor innovate 
Vol. [. 6? 



530 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

against, nor to the prejudice of it, nor of the appellants, whom we, for reasons, have relieved of 
the indebita interjection, issue and prosecution of said appeal ; but were anything on the contrary 
done, attempted or innovated, that he immediately and without delay repair, and put it in 
its original and most proper place, without failing in any part thereof. And whereas[some of 
the aforesaid persons may sojourn at present without these United Provinces and the 
jurisdiction thereof, you shall make service hereof at their last place of abode, and on their 
factors, attorneys or the agents of their property, if any they have subject to our authority ; 
if not, at the uttermost parts of this country where such writs are admitted, and the nearest 
to their places of residence, notifying them thereof by letter and authentic copy hereof, to the 
end that they may not plead ignorance hereof, which service being performed by you, we 
shall esteem as valid as if it were personal, leaving copy hereof and of your service for the 
behoof of the respondents, reporting to us at the day aforesaid, what you have done in 
the premises. Given at the Hague, under our seal, paraph, and signature of our Secretary, 
on the tenth April, XVI C three and fifty. 



Chamber at Amsterdam to the States General. 

[ From the Original in Ihe Eoyal Archives at the Hague ; File, Wett Indie. ] 

High and Mighty Lords. 

Adriaen van der Donck, having heretofore resided in New Netherland, a place situated 
within the Company's Charter, hath submitted to us a certain little Book, entitled : 
Beschryvinge van Nieu-Nederlant, begrijpende de Nature, Aert, gelegcnlheyt en vruchtbaerheyt van 
het selve Lant ; milsgadcrs de jiToffijtelijcke endc gewenste toevallen, die aldaer tot 's-menscken onderhoul, 
soo uyt haer sclven ah van buyten wgebracht, gevondenwerden. And the same being examined by us, 
we have judged it by no means out of the way, in regard to the conveniency of the place. 
And as he intends to apply to your High Mightinesses for a copyright therefor, and hath 
requested us to furnish him a letter to your High Mightinesses in regard to the communication 
made to us; we are unwilling to refuse, but have willingly granted it to him, in order 
that it may avail him according as your High Mightinesses, in your profound wisdom may 
think proper. 

Herewith, High and Mighty Lords, we shall pray God Almighty for the lasting welfare of 
your High Mightinesses' prosperous government and remain 

Your High Mightinesses' humble servants, 
The Directors of the West India Company at the Chamber at Amsterdam. 

Amsterdam, this 2 May, ] (Signed) Eduard Man. 

Received 14 May, j ' Joannes Ryckaert. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VII. 531 

Resolution, of the States General on the preceding Letter. 

[ From the Register of West India Affairs, 1652 — 1603, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Wednesday, the 14 th May, 1653. 
Folio 65. Read at the meeting, a petition of Adriaen van der Donck, seconded by letters 

AdriaenTan der of recommendation from the Amsterdam Chamber of the West India Company, 

Donck. , r , J 

Book respecting dated the 2 d instant, praying copyright for a certain Book, entitled Beschryvhige 
van Nieu-Nederlandt ; which being considered, it is resolved and concluded that 
the aforesaid petition, letter of recommendation and Book shall be placed altogether in the 
hands of Mess" Huygens and others, their High Mightinesses' Deputies for the affairs of 
the West India Company, to inspect, examine and report thereupon. 



Re-solution of the States General calling for a copy of Van der Doner's " Beschryvhige^ 

[ Prom the Register of West India Affairs, 1652 — 1663, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Friday, the 16 ,h May, 1653. 

Foi.oC5. On the representation made to the Assembly, it is resolved and concluded, 

that the Amsterdam Chamber of the West India Company, shall be written to, to transmit to 

Donck" Tander thd 1 " High Mightinesses for examination the Book entitled Beschryvhige van 

S ook xT .7 es p ec « n g Nieu Nederlandt, whereof Adriaen van der Donck hath, on the 14 lb instant, prayed 

New Nut Iter la mi. r •> 

copyright. 



States General to the Amsterdam Chamber of the West India Company. 

[ From the Register of ntgegane Brieven of the States General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

The States, etc. 
Foiiono. Honorable, etc. We have duly received your letter dated the 2 d instant, 

Book respecting respecting the little Book entitled Beschryvhige van Nieuw Nederlandt,, whereof 

New Nelherland. r ° , . , , . . , , , , 

Adriaen van der Donck prayed copyright, which being considered, we have resolved 
to request and require you, hereby, to transmit to us without loss of time the Book aforesaid, 
for examination here. Wherewith ending, etc. Done, 16 th May, 1653. 



532 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Chamber at Amsterdam to the States General. 

[ From the Original, in Hie Eoyal Archives at the Ilaguo : File, West Indie. ] 

High and Mighty Lords ! 

We have received your High Mightinesses' agreeable letter of the lo" 1 instant, and have 
noted your High Mightinesses' request, that we transmit without loss of time to your High 
Mightinesses the little Book in our hands, entitled Bcschryvinge van Nieuw Nederlandt, written 
by Adriaen van der Donck; 1 pursuant whereunto the same accompanies this letter, that your 
High Mightinesses make such disposition thereon as you in your profound judgment shall 
deem proper. Herewith, 

High and Mighty Lords, we shall pray God Almighty for your High Mightinesses' persons 
and prosperous government, and remain, your High Mightinesses' humble servants, 

The Directors of the General Incorporated West India Company, Chamber at Amsterdam. 

Amsterdam the 19 lh May, 

Abr. Wilmerdonx. 



Received 2] May, 



>■ 1653. (Signed) 



'Adriaen van deb Donck, was, as he himself states, a free citizen of Breda, and a lineal descendant of Adriaen van Bergen, 
part owner of the famous turf-boat in which a party of Dutch troops were clandestinely introduced, in the year 1599, into 
the castle of that city, whereby that stronghold of Spanish tryanny was reduced. After graduating at the University of 
Leyden, and pursuing a course of legal study, Van der Donck received the Degree of Juris utriusque Doclvr, that is of the 
civil and canon law. He was subsequently admitted to the practice of an Advocate in the Supreme Court of Holland, and 
enjoys the distinction of having been the first lawyer in this country. He came here in the fall of 1641, as Sheriff of the 
Coloaie of Rensselaerswyck, and during his term of office, evinced always a disposition to protect the colonists. A few years 
afterwards he made an unsuccessful attempt to purchase a tract of land at Catskill, and in 1647, his term of office having 
expired, he removed to the Manhattans, where, in consideration of the assistance he had afforded in negotiating a treaty with 
the Mohawk?, and in return for advances he had made to enable the government to purchase presents for those Indians, he 
obtained a grant of a large tract of land in Westchester, now known as Yonkers. This was erected into a Colonic or Manor 
in 1652, of which Van der Donck became the Patroon. The misgovernment of the country had, in the mean time, excited 
considerable complaint among the people, and a delegation was sent to lay the matter before the States General. In the 
discussions which arose in consequence, Van der Donck took a protuineut part. The Petition of the People of New 
Netherland (supra, p. 271), of which Van dir Donck is generally admitted to have been the author, was printed at the 
Hague, in the year 1650, under the Title of Vertoogh van Nieu-Nederland weghens de Ghelegentheydt, Vruchtbaerhydt en 
Soberen slaet dexselfs. sm. 4to. pp. 49, by which means the advantages of this country, and the justice of its complaints were 
brought prominently before the Nation. As a consequence, emigration was encouraged, the colonists were admitted to 
participate in the foreign trade, and a municipal government was conceded for the first time to New Amsterdam, now New- 
York. In the labors attendant on procuring these reforms, Van der Donck could not fail to secure the ill will of the Company, 
which had taken possession of New Netherland merely for commercial purposes, and had made colonization only a secondary 
object. Accordingly, in 1652, when his business was concluded and he was on the eve of returning to this country, with his 
family, the Directors at Amsterdam instructed their ship captains not to receive him on board any of their vessels. In vain 
he procured the interference of influential friends and represented the cruelty of separating him from his wife and children, 
who had already embarked; in vain he pleaded the ruin that would overtake him were he not permitted to proceed. 
He was told he could not go ; his family was obliged to sail without him, and he returned to the Hague He now employed 
his leisure in writing another work on his adopted country, for which he obtained, as stated in the text, a fiiteen years' 
copyright and returned in the fall of 1653 to America, with leave to practice his profession "as far as giving advice," 
as the Directors " could not see what advantage his pleadings before the court would have, especially as there 
were, no doubt, sume lawyers already in New Netherland who could be engaged on the other side." He evidentiy 
contemplated an ad lition to the last mentioned work, embracing a history of the Province, for he had applied for permission 
to examine the Colonial records. Unfortunately, the application was fruitless, and his second hook was published in 1655, 
without the proposed addition. It is entitled: 

BESCIIRIJVINGE | van | NIEUVV-NEDERLANT, | ( (Gljtlnck |ct tfSCnt»oorbia.1) in Start is) | Begrijpende de Nature, 
Aert, gelegentheyt en vrucht | baerheyt van het selve Lant ; mitsgaders de proffijtelijcke en- | de gewenste toevallen, die 
aldaer tot onderhout der Menschen, ( soo | uyt haer selven als van buyten ingebraeht ) gevonden worden. | ALS MEDE | J3t 
mattim tit onabtmtjnt tnjgtiiscljapptu | ban br KlilJmt oftc Natunlctit banbrn lanbt. | Bnit | Een bysonder verhael vanden 
wonderlijoken Aert | ende het Weesen der BEYERS, | DAER NOCH BY GEVOEGHT IS | Bffi bistours obit it fltlt fltntt* jt 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VII. 533 

Resolution of the States General granting Copyright to Adriaen van der Donck. 

[ From the Register of West India Affairs, 1G52 — 1663, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Saturday, the 24 th May, 1653. 
Foiio 60. Upon consideration, it is resolved and concluded hereby to allow and erant to 

Book respocttng . , . _. J o 

NewNethonaud. Adriaen van der Donck, author of a certain Book entitled Beschryvinge van Nieu 
Nederlandt, the exclusive right for the term of 15 consecutive years to permit the printing 
copyright.: and distribution thereof throughout the United Provinces, and the territories 

thereunto belonging, (provided the permission of the respective Provinces where he will have 
said Book printed and sold be requested,) whereof due acte of copyright shall be issued to him. 



Resolution of the States General referring a Petition of Johannes de Laet. 

[ From the Register of West India Affairs, 1G52 — 1663, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Thursday, the 19 ,h June, 1653. 
Foiio go. Read at the Assembly, the petition of Johan de Laet, respecting and against 

johan de Laet. one Muijsaert, in relation to Petitioner's fourth vote in the superiority, 
government and direction of the Colonie in New Netherland, named Renselaerswyck ; which 
being considered, it is resolved and concluded that the petition aforesaid shall be placed in 
the hands of Mess" Huijgens and the other their High Mightinesses' Deputies for the affairs of 
the West India Company, to inspect, examine and report thereupon. 



Resolution of the States General referring the above case to the Court of Holland. 

[From the Register of West India Affairs, 16M — 1663, in the Royal Archives at the Hague.] 

Wednesday, the 25 ,h June, 1653. 
Foiio to. Heard the report of Mr. Huygens and the other their High Mightinesses' Deputies 

for the affairs of the West India Company, who pursuant to the resolution of the 19 th instant, 

han Nieuw Nederlandt, | tusscfjtrt Ctlt Ncderlandts Patriot, | mir rr.lt | Nieuw Nederlander. | Beschreven door | ADRIAEN 
Tander DONCK | Beyder Rechten Doetoor, die tegenwoor- | digh nooh in Nieuw Nederlandt is. | t'AMSTELDAM. | 33j Evert 
Nieuwhof, Botrk-utrkooptr, ijoooiunor. op 't | Huslartilt in'tj5cl)tijfl)0ftft | Anno 1655. 

Description of New Netherland ( such as it now is ), Comprehending the Nature, Character, Situation and Fruit fdness of that 
Country ; together with the profitable and desirable opportunities which it offers for the support of people ( whether natives or 
foreigners ) Also the Manners and peculiar characteristics of the Indians or aboriginesof the Country. And a particular account 
of the wonderful nature and habits of the Beaver ; to which is also added a Discourse on the situation of New Netherland, between 
a Netherlands Patriot and a New Netherlander. Written by Adriaen van der Donck, Doctor of Laws, who is still in New 
Netherland.) 4to. Title, viii a. 104 pages. 

A second edition of this volume was published in 1656, with a map, and a translation of it, by General Jeremiah Johnson, 
printed ill the Collections of the New-York Historical Society. Adriaen van der Donck died in this country_in 16-35, and left 
his Colonie, in Westchester, to his wife. This lady, whom he married in 1645, was the daughter of the Reverend Francis 
Doughty, of Long Island. She afterwards married Hugh O'Neal, of Patuxent, Maryland, whither she and her father removed. 
Copies of Van der Donek's works are in the State Library, Albany. — Ed. 



534 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

johan deLaet. inspected and examined the petition of Johan de Laet, residing here at the Hague, 
respecting the matter which he hath against Thausin Muysaert in regard to the Colonie 
Renselaerswyck in New Netherlands which being considered, it is resolved and concluded, 
that the petition aforesaid shall be transmitted to the Provincial Court of Holland, to consider 
and examine it with the documents to be delivered in by parties on both sides, and to prepare 
a judgment thereupon, which is to be sent to their High Mightinesses and then to be pronounced 
without any alteration. 



States General to the Court of Holland. 

[ From the Register of Uitgegane Brieven of the States General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

The States, etc. 
Folio 245 Honorable. You will please to see from the accompanying petition presented to 

Johannes de Laet, us in the name and on the behalf of Johannes de Laet, 1 residing here at the Hague, 
contra what he hath represented to us respecting the matter which he hath unsettled 

Tonsaen Muysart, w \^ an d against Tousain Muysart, in regard to the Colonie Renselaerswyck. 
in New Netherland, which petition we have resolved hereby to refer to your Honors, 
with friendly request that you would take the trouble to consider and examine it together with 
the documents to be delivered by parties on both sides, and to prepare a judgment thereupon 
to be sent afterwards to us, which shall then be pronounced without any alteration, 
Wherewith ending, etc. Done, 26 th June, 1653. 



Resolution of the States General on Appeals from New Netherland. 

[From the Register of West India Affairs, 1653 — 166*, in the Royal Archives at the Hague.] 

Wednesday, the 6 th August, 1653. 

Folio 74. The Deputies from the Province of Holland have brought in to the Assembly 

Appeal from judg. its provincial opinion in manner and form as is hereafter inserted, word for word, 

!n e New Nelhertand. to the effect that no Writs of Appeal from Judgments pronounced in New 

Netherland ought to be granted by their High Mightinesses even with the clause of inhibition; 

1 Johannes de Laet was born at Antwerp about the close of the XVTth Century. He was a prominent Director of the 
West India Company, and distinguished himself in the world of letters by his knowledge of the languages, history and 
geography. He is elsewhere represented as having died towards the end of 1649 or in the beginning of 1650. See supra, p. 407 ; 
also the Biographic Universelle, where a list of his works is given. Of these following only have relation to this Country: 
I. The New World, or a description of the West Indies, which was published in Dutch in 1625 and 1630; in Latin in 1633 
and in French in 1640, all in folio. II. Account of the Transactions of the West India Company (in Dutch.) Leyden, 
1644, folio. III. Notes ad Dissertatione Hugonis Grotii de Origine gentium Americauarum. Paris, 1643. 8vo. 
IV. Responsio ad dissertationein secundam Hugonis Grotii. Amsterdam, 1644. 8vo. V. An Edition of Piso's Eistoire 
Naturel de Bresil, with learned Notei. Leyden, 1 648. folio. His widow married Johannes de Hulter and afterwards Jeremias 
Ebbing, with whom she visited this country. — Ed. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VII. 535 

Which being considered, it is resolved and concluded that copy of the opinion aforesaid shall 
be sent to Mr. van der Capelle tho Ryssel, with request that he within the space of 14 days after 
receipt of the letter, shall answer in writing, what he deems fit thereon, in regard to the Writ 
of Appeal obtained by him on the 10 lh of April last from their High Mightinesses, in 
similar circumstances. 



Resolution of the States of Holland and Westvriesland, dated the 4 th August, 1653. 



No Appeal from 



On the requisition of Mess" the deputed Councillors is read in Court a certain 
nnun™rr t 'in iK-w °pi n * on rendered by the Attorneys General Paats and Stryen on the petition 
lately presented to their Honorable Great Mightinesses by Jan Klaasz. Heukelum, 
cum suis, owners of the ship called the Vaarwel, and it is besides stated that Mess" the deputed 
Councillors had approved of said opinion, which therefore might be regarded as the opinion 
of the abovementioned deputed Councillors, in fulfillment of their Hon ble Great Mightinesses* 
order bearing date the 20 lh June last. 

Which being considered, it is resolved and concluded that Writ of Appeal from Judgments 
pronounced in New Netherland can not be properly, and ought in no case be granted by their 
High Mightinesses, and that, therefore, care shall be taken at the General Assembly to revoke 
such writ of appeal as Mr. Hendrick van Cappelle tho Rhyssel obtained on the 10 th April last 
from their High Mightinesses in similar circumstances, the same having been issued without 
authority and contrary to all good order. 



States General to Mr. van der Capelle. 

[From the Register of Xjilgegane Brieven of the States General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

The States, etc. 
Folio sis. Honorable, etc. You will be able to observe from the accompanying copy of 

its provincial opinion which we have hereby resolved to send you, what the Deputies of the 
from 8 ' 8 Judgment] Province of Holland have, this day, brought in to our Assembly, concerning the 
sTuS Sd. m New Writ of Appeal granted on judgments pronounced in New Netherland, requesting 
you within the space of 14 days after receipt hereof, to auswer in writing what to you may 
seem fit touching the Writ of Appeal obtained by you on the 10 lh of April last. Wherewith 
ending, &c. Done 6 lh August, 1G53. 



■■■■♦•I* 



Mr. van der Capelle to the Stutes General, with Draft of Resolution. 

[ From the Original in the Royal Archives at tho Hague ; File, West Indie. ] 

Exhibit. 21 August, 1653. 

Yonkheer Henrick van der Cappellen tho Ryssel, ordinary Deputy to your High Mightinesses' 
Assembly, having communication of what the Deputies of Holland have submitted to your 



536 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

High Mightinesses' Assembly on the 6 lh of August, against the Writ of Appeal which he 
obtained on the I0 lb of April from your High Mightinesses against Director Stuyvesant, being 
in your High Mightinesses' oath, commission and -instruction, desires with becoming respect to 
thank your High Mightinesses, for having communicated it by resolution and letter of the 6 ,h 
August aforesaid, in order that he may state what he has to say thereupon, before your High 
Mightinesses dispose thereof. But inasmuch as relation is had, in this resolution of the Lords 
of Holland dated the 4 th of August, to the opinion of the Advocates I'olts and Stryen, 
whereupon the resolution is founded, and he requires to have a knowledge of the petition and 
reasons, whereon the Advocates have based their opinion ; he, Mr. van der Capellen doth 
therefore with due respect, pray your High Mightinesses to be pleased to intercede with the 
Lords of Holland, that the aforesaid opinion with the petition and whatever relates thereunto, 
may be communicated to him, in order that he may act as is necessary in the premises ; and 
that in the meantime (deliberante jirincipe) no alteration be made either by your High 
Mightinesses or the Court of Holland, before which were brought the cognizance and adjudication 
of the arrested New Netherland ship issued by Director Stuyvesant, and if, on the error to be 
moved by party, some alteration happen to be made in his absence, that the same remain 
stationary and unexecuted, until your High Mightinesses shall be further informed of the 
matter. Which being considered, it is resolved and concluded hereby to request the 
abovementioned Lords of Holland not to have any scruples against allowing said Mr. Henrick 
van der Capellen tho Ryssel copy of the said opinion and petition respectively, that he may 
make use of the same as to him shall seem meet. 



Resolution of the States General on the preceding Letter. 

[ From the Register of West India Affairs, 1652 — 1G63, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Thursday, the 21 st August, 1653. 

Foi.o 75. Read a Memoir of Yonckheer Henrik van der Capelle tho Ryssel, ordinary 

Mr. vamier capeiie Deputy to their High Mightinesses' Assembly, to the effect, that he hath seen 

what was submitted by the Deputies of Holland to this Assembly on the 6 lh 

wnt respecting a August last, in opposition to the Writ of Appeal which he had obtained on the 

Judgment pronoun- 

ju«iin New Nether- io lh of April, of the current year, from their High Mightinesses against 
Director Stuyvesant, holding on oath their High Mightinesses' Commission and 
Instruction; that he respectfully thanked their High Mightinesses for having been willing, by 
their Resolution and letter of the 6 tb of August, aforesaid, to give him communication thereof, 
in order that he might say what he thought of it, before any disposition be made thereon by 
their High Mightinesses; but inasmuch as relation is had, in the resolution of the Lords of 
Holland, dated the 4 lh of August, aforesaid, to the opinion of the Advocates Palts and Stryen, 
whereupon the resolution is founded, and he requires to have a knowlege of the petition and 
reasons whereon the advocates have based their opinion, he Mr. Van der Capelle, doth, 
therefore, respectfully pray their High Mightinesses to be pleased to intercede with the Lords 
of Holland that the aforesaid opinion, with the Petition of Jan Claesz. van Heuckelom 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VII. 537 

cum, sociis presented to their High Mightinesses and whatever relates thereunto, may be 
communicated to him, in order that he may act as is necessary in the premises; and that 
meanwhile (deliberante principe) no alteration be made by their High Mightinesses nor by the 
court of Holland, before which were brought the cognizance and adjudication of the arrested 
New Netherland ship, issued by Director Stuyvesant ; and if, on the error to be moved by 
party, some alteration happen to be made in his absence, that the same remain stationary and 
unexecuted, until their High Mightinesses be further informed of the matter. Which being 
considered, their High Mightinesses have consented to and granted the aforesaid petition, and 
it is hereby accordingly resolved and concluded to request the abovementioned Lords of 
Holland not to have any scruples against allowing said Mr. Henrick van der Capelle tho 
Ryssel copy of the aforesaid opinion and petition respectively, that he may make use of the 
same as to him shall seem meet. 



Resolution of the States General relating to the Boundary of New Netherland. 

[From the Register of West India Affairs, 1652 — 16C8, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Thursday, the 6 th November, 1653. 

Fo»o 82. On reading the petition of the present Directors of the Incorporated West India 

Company, representing the Assembly of the Nineteen, here at the Hague, and who therewith 
New Netherland. exhibited three documents annexed, relating to the division of the Boundary in 
Boundary. New Netherland, between the West India Company aforesaid and the English 

Nation in those parts, the subject is postponed until to-morrow. 



Vol I. 08 



WEST INDIA COMPANY. 



DIVISION 



BOUNDARY IN AMERICA, 



BETWEEN THE 



WEST INDIA COMPANY AND THE ENGLISH. 



Read 6th November, 1653. 



[ From the M3. In the Koyal Archives at the Hague ; Loktlkaa of the Stales General ; Division, West Inditche CompagnU, No. 89. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VII. 541 



Went India Company to the State* General. 
To the High and Mighty Lords States General of the United Netherlands. 



[L. S.J 



The Directors of the Incorporated West India Company now present representing the 
Assemby of the XIX. met here at the Hague, most respectfully submit: That the English nation 
bordering on our territory of New Netherland on the North, have for some years been 
endeavoring by undue practices and means to invade, on unfounded pretences, our lands and 
jurisdiction; many protests have been made against such proceedings, but remarking that 
they, relying on their numbers, having more people than we, and we being apprehensive of 
further invasions from time to time, in order to obviate all troubles between them and us, the 
Directors had resolved to instruct their Governor to employ all means, to induce that nation 
by all fair offers to come to a neighborly, good correspondence and provisional settlement of the 
Boundary, which order he hath obeyed, and accordingly, so far succeeded that the English 
consented to confer thereupon with our Governor, which conference also followed. 

On the invitation of that English nation of New England, the Governor did, in the year 1650, 
proceed to Hartford, and attend the Meeting of their deputies, called for that purpose, where, 
in friendly negotiation, a provisional Boundary was agreed upon, subject to the approval of 
their respective superiors, as your High Mightinesses can see by the extract of Governor 
Stuyvesant's despatch dated 26 lh November 1650. Since that time the aforesaid Directors 
had requested your High Mightinesses, to instruct Mess" Cats 1 and others, your High 
Mightinesses' extraordinary ambassadors, on their departure for England, to ratify, in the 
negotiation with the government of England, this boundary line, which we doubt not would 
be done, had not God the Lord been pleased, on account of our sins, to cut short for a time, 
the thread of that negotiation, and we are now informed that some extraordinary ambassadors 
have gone thither, to renew negotiations, whereunto the Almighty will grant his gracious 
blessing for his honor and the welfare of these countries, the aforesaid Directors ex-offlcio, 
could not omit humbly praying your High Mightinesses, that the aforesaid extraordinary 
ambassadors may be intrusted in their commission with this settlement of the boundary, not 
only as regards those of New England, bordering on our territory on the North, who are now 
agitating unfounded questions, doubtless by order of the government of England, but also on 
the other side, to the South, with the English of Virginia. Although these exhibit, as yet, 
every inclination to continue good neighborly correspondence and commerce with us, we, 

1 Jacob Cats, the national poet of the Dutch, was born at Brouwershaven, in Zealand, on the 10th November, 1577- Having 
lost his mother at an early age, he passed under the guardianship of his uncle, who sent him to school at Zierikzee. Hence 
he went to Leyden, and next to Orleans, in France, where he obtained the degree of Doctor of Law. On his return to his 
native country he was offered and declined the Law chair at Lej'den, having been appointed Pensionary of Middelburg. He 
held this high office two years, and was then unexpectedly elected Pensionary of Dordrecht. In 1027, he was sent Ambassa- 
dor with Mr. Joachimi to England, and in 1036 was appointed Grand Pensionary of Holland. He became Keeper of the Great. 
Seal in 1645, and in 1051 was again sent to England as one of the Ambassadors to negotiate a peace. On his return home, he 
resigned his public offices and retired to his seat near the Hague, where he devoted the remainder of his valuable life to 
elegant literature and the Muses. He departed this life on the 12th September. 1660, aged nearly S3 years. Cats occupies 
one of the first positions among those who have restored, or rather created, Dutch poetry, and is not inappropriately called the 
La Fontaine of Holland. Several Editions of his Works have appeared in Dutch, and most of his Poems have been translated 
into other European languages His portrait will be found prefixed to the Edition of his Works, printed at Amsterdam in 
1328, which also contains a brief Bketeh of his life, whence these particulars are borrowed. A statue was erected to his 
memorv in his native town in 1829. — ho 



542 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

nevertheless, doubt not but your High Mightinesses will, in your customary profound wisdom, 
conclude how extremely necessary it is, that those boundaries be settled once for all, to the 
end that our nation already inhabiting those parts, may remain assured of life and property 
and many people be induced thereby, in consequence of such security, to remove thither. And 
whereas, it is the opinion of every person conversant with the subject, that this country can in 
a few years, derive from New Netherland many necessaries of use here, which we omit so as 
not to trouble your High Mightinesses with prolixity, we therefore, finally, once more humbly 
pray and beseech, what is hereinbefore stated, and that the premises may be commended to 
Mess" the extraordinary ambassadors, agreeable to the draft of the division of the boundary 
hereunto annexed. 

Which doing, etc. 

(Signed) Ab: Wilmerdonx. 

ISAACK VAN BEEK. 



Description of the Boundaries of New Netherland. 

New Netherland, lying in the Northern part of America, in Latitude 41J degrees north 
of the Equator, was frequented by the subjects of the United Provinces long before the High 
and Mighty Lords States General had granted the West India Company a Charter not only 
further to explore and trade at that quarter and Coast, as was done by individuals before 
the Charter, but to take possession, to inhabit and, as circumstances permitted, to people the 
country. 

Immediately after obtaining the Charter, the Hon ble Directors sent divers ships to New 
Netherland with people and cattle, which people, being for the most part servants of the 
aforesaid Company, purchased many and various lands; among others, on the North 
(alias Maurice) river, Staten island, Pavonia, Hoboocken, Nut Island and the Island of 
Manhattans with many other lands thereabouts ; on which Island of Manhattans was built 
Fort Amsterdam and subsequently the City of Amsterdam. A very extensive tract of country 
was also purchased from the Natives, being Mahikanders, 36 leagues up the North river, where 
Fort Orange was founded on behalf of the Company, and afterwards the Colonie of 
Renselaerswyk. 

From the Southern Indians a large tract of land, called Swanendaal, was purchased on 
the West shore of the South bay, not far from Cape Hindlopen, and taken possession of by the 
building of a small fort, where 2S men were, one day, treacherously murdered by the Indians. 
On the East bank of the South river is built Fort Nassau, and on the West bank, the Redoubt 
Beversreede, situate at the Schuylkil. These above described lands, forts and rivers were taken 
possession of, inhabited, built, traded at and frequented on the account of the abovementioned 
Company, and the same is continued up to this date. 

In the year 1633, Wolter van Twiller, at the time Director in New Netherland, purchased 
the territory called Conittekock, situate on the Fresh River of New Netherland, long before 
any other Christian Nation had been there. Van Twiller, immediately after the sale, payment 
and conveyance, caused possession to be taken of that land, and there for the account of the 
Company had Fort Hope built, which is conlinually to this date occupied by a garrison who 
also made a bouweiie there and cultivated the soil. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VII. 543 

This aforesaid land, called by the Natives Conitte kock, lies about 20 to 21 leagues up the 
river, being situate in the jurisdiction of the Chief Sequeen, which Chief or Sakima was, in his 
time, Lord and right owner of the entire river and the lands thereabouts. But inasmuch as a 
difficulty arose between the Chief of the Pequatoos, named Meantioni and the Sequeen, 
respecting the jurisdiction and propriety of said river, these Sakimas or Chiefs agreed to meet 
and fight in the field, each with his entire force, on condition that whoso remained conqueror 
should, himself and his successors be and remain forever, Lord and right owner of said Fresh 
river. After three several pitched battles, Meantinomy, Chief of the Pequatoos, remained the 
victor, and the Sequeen, so beaten and defeated that he is become subject to the Pequatoos, 
with whose consent he and his remaining people repaired under the protection of the Dutch, 
and for greater security, the Sequeen and his tribe on the Conitte Cock, went to dwell close 
by Fort Hope, which is also expressly conditioned in the purchase of Conitte kock, as can 
be proved by Sonqassen the son of the late Sequeen, who is still living. 

This land Conittekock was purchased from the Pequatoos as conquerors, with the free will 
and consent of the Sequeen, who as well as Meantinomy aforesaid lawfully conceded all the 
right he possessed, to the Company, so that the Hon ble Directors aforementioned have acquired 
their right to this Country and jurisdiction from the Natives and just proprietors, by purchase, 
free conveyance and payment. 

Conittekock which is a very extensive and beautiful flat, extending along the river and so 
inland in a westerly direction, is situate on the West bank of the Fresh river. In spring 'tis 
daily overflowed back to the hill in consequence of the rising of the river, like the Nile. 

In the year 1G35 one Mr. Pinsen established a trading house and plantation 1 on said Fresh 
river above Fort Hope, against which Director Twiller protested through one Andries Hudde, 
in the name of the Company. 

The English proceeding, notwithstanding, have founded about a small gunshot from Fort 
Hope, the town called Hertfoort, and other settlements on the Company's purchased lands, 
contrary to previous protests ; so that the English of Hertfoort left to Fort Hope scarcely 
ground enough to supply the corn and vegetables necessary for the people of said fort ; of those 
lands they robbed the Company by force, contrary to all public law. 

Apprehensive that they might experience hereafter some inconvenience on account of the 
aforementioned proceedings, the English of Hertfoort sent down three Deputies to enter 
into some arrangement with the Director of New Netherland, with which view they submitted 
some points, whereof the Governor of Hertfoort was to communicate the ratification; this has 
not been done to this date, and the difference has remained in statu quo. 

We have, thus far, spoken of the right whereby the aforesaid West India Company, in 
virtue of the Charter, have taken possession of those lands, to wit : by its lawful and voluntary 
sale and conveyance by the natives, which can be proved by Christians and Indians 
still living. 

Having heretofore mentioned the lands which the Hon bie Directors caused to be purchased 
by their servants on the South bay near Cape Hindlopen, on both sides of the South river, on 
the North bay, the North river, and on the Fresh river, whereof they took possession by forts 
and hamlets, long before any Christian nation had settled on said lands; which places have, 
since the origin of the Company, continued garrisoned at its expense, unto this day — 

'Now Springfield, Mass. — Ed. 



544 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

We shall now state how long and how wide the limits of New Netherland can be asserted 
along the coast, inasmuch as it has been discovered and frequented by the Dutch nation, 
in virtue of the abovementioned charter, long before any of the English visited that coast, as 
can be demonstrated by old maps whereon the islands, bays and rivers stand recorded by 
Dutcli names. 

The limits of New Netherland, as claimed then, would be from Cape Hindlopen, on the 
south, to Cape Cod, on the east, including therein Long Island, situate right in front of New 
Netherland, whence it is separated by an arm of the sea, called the East river, which begins 
at Coney Island, in the North bay of the North river, and runs again into the sea at the 
eastward, near Fisher's Island, opposite the Pequatoos river, together with all other bays, 
rivers and islands situate westward of Cape Cod, and especially the island named Quetenis, 
lying in Sloop bay, which was purchased, paid for and taken possession of in the year 1637, 
on the Company's account. These lands aforesaid, were esteemed the boundaries of old, and 
because the difficulties under which the Hon ble Company has labored of late years have not 
allowed it to occupy the aforesaid pretended limits, the English of Boston and Plymouth, in 
New Nelherlaud, 1 situate one hundred leagues from the Manhatans or New Amsterdam, did, 
contrary to every law of nations, come some few years ago inside the boundary and Fort Hope, 
on the Fresh river, against numerous notifications and protests, as far as Greenwich, situate 
about eight leagues from New Amsterdam, and have planted on the usurped lands divers 
towns, villages and hamlets, thus retaining the Company's land by force and violence. Not 
content with that, the said English have formed on Long Island, two little villages, called 
Southold and Southampton, although their High Mightinesses' subjects had long before taken 
possesion of that island, and founded thereon divers towns and hamlets, with many bouweries 
and plantations. These villages and hamlets are named Amersloort, Vlissingen, Heemstede, 
Gravesande, Breuckelen, Mispaecht and Gauwanes, &o., so that Long Island rightfully 
belongs, both by first purchase, possession and ancient resort, to the Dutch nation and not to 
the English. 

In order then to establish a good, firm and irrefragable boundary with our neighbors, the 
English of New England ; and as their High Mightinesses' subjects will not be able to retain 
pretended jurisdiction over the lands aforesaid; and in order to somewhat gratify, as far as 
is possible and reasonable, the neighbors of New England, so as to live in future with them, in 
North America, in peace and good neighborhood, I subjoin some suggestions respecting the 
division of the boundary in that country. 

First : I insist that the boundary of New Netherland along the sea coast, should be calculated 
from the South bay, beginning at Cape Hindlopen, and including the South river, unto Godyn's 
point, being the South hook of the North bay, or beginning of the North river, extending from 
said North bay 30 leagues southward along the coast unto Cape Hindlopen. 

It is to be remarked that the English never inhabited nor purchased, much less took 
possession of any land south of the North bay or Godyn's point to Cape Hindloopen, so that in 
this quarter there is no dispute between our nation and those of New England, nor with those 
of Virginia, who lie south of, and are in good terms with them ; there is, therefore, no trouble 
on that side with those of Virginia, inasmuch as they never committed any usurpation on the 
Dutch hounds. 

1 Sie. — Ed. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VII. 545 

From Godyn's, or Sandy Hook eastward along Long Island 30 leagues in length along 
the great Ocean, unto the east end thereof, which lies right opposite Fisher's Island and the 
Pequatoos river; from this river, both outside and inside Long Island through the East river, 
the limits of New Netherland might be computed, should they be arranged in a friendly 
manner, in which case over 60 leagues of country from Cape Cod westward to the Pequatoos 
river, for many years included within the Hon ble Company's limits, are left to our neighbors, 
so that from Amsterdam along the East river inside, would remain not more than 30 leagues, 
wherein must be included Long Island and the islands thereunto belonging situate in the 
Cromme gouw, Fisher's Island and all others lying in the East river, such as the Archeppela, 
and those between New Haven and Stamfort. 

Here 'tis to be further observed, that long before the English came to dwell beyond the river 
Pequato, the Dutch nation, by Director Kieft, caused possession to be taken of the lands 
situate on said river, both on the mainland and on Long Island, by the setting up of the arms 
of their High Mightinesses the Lords States General, which arms were at divers places torn 
down by one Lieutenant Houst, and the lands, contrary to all right and protest, afterwards 
taken up by the English, in which district they have founded many villages and hamlets, so 
that they have encroached on the lands as far as Petucquapoch, otherwise called Greenwich, 
in such wise that there is not more than eight leagues distance between that place and New 
Amsterdam, whereby of 90 leagues to the East, the Dutch at present peaceably occupy 
no more than 8. 'Twould, therefore, be fair and honorable that the West India Company 
should possess the lands and bounds from the river Pequato Fokets, or at least from the East 
bank of the Fresh river, which was long since taken possession of, and has been occupied by 
a fort and garrison from the year 1633 to this day. 

But in case any discussion arise respecting the towns of Hertfoort and New Haven, with 
the villages and hamlets on them depending, which towns and villages lie westward of Fort 
Hope and the Fresh river, as far as Greenwich, these places should be left their laws and 
magistrates, only swearing allegiance and fidelity and paying the Company, as Patroons, such 
acknowledgment as may be agreed on, whether Tenths or other Royalties. 

Should, however, the abovenamed towns and villages, not consent to come under the 
obedience of the States General, and of the Company, 'twould, for the sake of the peace of 
both nations, not be unwise to agree, if possible, to the following Boundary: 

From Cape Hindloopen along the sea coast unto Godyn's point, and thence proceeding along 
the Mainland inside Long Island, through unto Stamfort, which is separated from Greenwich 
by a little river; and the islands thereunto belonging, together with Long Island, must 
remain entirely with the Dutch ; because, as before stated, they were taken possession 
of and inhabited long before the English came to lodge thereon ; the two little villages of 
Southampton and Southold must, in such case, repair and pass under this State. 

The Company might agree that Fort Hope and the Fresh river lands be held as a Manor, 
on condition that the Flat which extends east from the hill to the river should belong to and 
remain forever for the use of the house the Hope, as the land already does, having been 
obtained by lawful purchase and conveyance from the Natives and right owners. 

In like manner, should the Fresh river happen to fall to the English on the settlement of the 
Boundary, care ought to be taken that all vessels, whether large or small, should be free to 
sail up and down said river to Fort Hope and trade there, without let or hindrance or being 
subject to search or inspection; also, be free from all tolls and imposts, which it is to be 

Vol. I. 69 



54G NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

apprehended the English would establish, the rather as they have built a stone Redoubt at the 
mouth of the river; but here it is to be understood, that none other than those who would 
come there commissioned by the Director in New Netherland or by Mess" the Managers from 
Fatherland, should be exempt from the burdens aforesaid. 

This is what I have been able to propose for the service of the Hon ble , the Company, 
touching the Boundary. I pray God, that the wished for limits of New Netherland may be 
once settled, so that trade may improve, and the farmer cultivate his fields with pleasure. 

Thus done at the Hague, the last of February, 1C51. 1 

(Endorsed) No. 2. 

Well founded title claimed by the West India Company to the 
territory now called New Netherland, situate in the Northern 
part of America, in latitude 3S to 4U degrees. 



Memoir respecting the well established boundaries and jurisdiction claimed by 
the Incorporated West India Company, in virtue of its Charter, over the 
territories situate in the Northern part of America, in latitude from 3S 
to 41A degrees. 

Which lands they have many years since possessed, according to the Description hereunto 
annexed, No. 2, before any other nations had come thereabout, or discovered them ; but on 
the favorable accounts received here from those parts, the English sent some ships and people 
thither, whom they settled to the Southward of us. That country they named Virginia. In 
like manner they, also, have planted Colonies to the North of us, which country they called 
New England, whither they conveyed so many people that they in a short time greatly 
outnumbered our nation. Becoming presumptious in consequence, they began to encroach 
on our limits, and invaded many lands contrary to our formal interdicts and protests, 
so that at the North this Nation did not hesitate to make themselves masters of the 
greater part of the Fresh river, notwithstanding we had there erected a trading house and 
fort called the Hope, which we, likewise, occupied and garrisoned. Regardless hereof, the 
English, on their side, have proceeded to extend their Colonies over many of our lands 
purchased from the Indians, and would have done their best to usurp the largest and finest 
portion of our territory, 

Had not the Managers concluded to order their Director to prevent either by force or by 
friendly agreement as far as possible, any farther encroachment. 

The consequence thereof is, that he presented himself in the year 1650, at an Assembly of 
the Colonies, holden at Herfort, on the Fresh river, where in divers conferences and negotiations 
it was so far mutually arranged and agreed upon, that from that hour forward neither should 
encroach on the other, and this Treaty should be consdered a Provisional Boundary, subject 
to the approbation of their respective principals, as is to be seen by the despatch of Petrus 
Stuyvesant, Director of New Netherland, dated 26 th November, 1G50. Although we herein find 
ourselves considerably aggrieved, for the reasons above set forth, whereunto we might with great 

1 The above paper seems to have been drawn up by Director Stuyvesant, in 1649, and sent then by him to Holland, as is 
inferred from the conclusion of his letter to the States General, Supra, p. 824. — Ed. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VII. 547 

justice adhere especially in case hostilities were commenced here in Christendom against the 
English, as the English Nation in that country make such demonstrations as if they meant to 
surprise our lands there by force, having already not only forbidden all trade, correspondence 
and transport of provisions to our colonies, but also endeavored by evil practices to seduce the 
inhabitants (mostly English by birth) of divers villages under obedience and sworn fidelity to 
their High Mightinesses and the Company, to throw off" these obligations as being of no force, 
and that on a false supposition and unfounded calumny; yet, in the hope that a desirable peace 
might be concluded between this State and the present government of England, said Directors 
are of opinion that 'tis highly necessary that the ambassadors gone to England, be instructed to 
commend this boundary to the actual government of England, so that the same may be 
confirmed agreeably to the Description aforesaid. But duly considering that that nation cannot 
be easily removed from the lands of which they have, for so long a time been in usurped 
possession, and that it were unwise in the Company, unless driven thereto by extreme necessity, 
to come to contention or hostilities with that nation, inasmuch as they are much stronger in 
point of numbers than our people, the Directors therefore, regardless of our well-founded 
pretensions, would deem it more necessary to agree with that nation even to the extent of 
assenting to the Provisional Boundary concluded by our Director with them at the Meeting 
of the Colonies at Herfort, in the year 1G50, as is to be seen by the despatch dated 26 th 
November, from which it can be noted, that the only condition mutually agreed to, is, that they 
will no longer encroach on each other; this was so stated on account of the straits our nation 
find themselves in at present in that country. 

Neither can we omit on this occasion to remark the great importance to the Commonalty 
and subjects of those countries, of the trade to the Barbadoes, and other circumjacent places, 
which trade was prosecuted by our nation many years ago with great profit, until the English 
by direction and order of its present government, went thither with a powerful fleet, and 
reduced those Islands partly by force and partly on terms, and contrary to capitulations 
and promises, would oblige the inhabitants there not to trade with any, except themselves. 
All which is in direct opposition to the conditions agreed upon as aforesaid, which plainly set 
forth that those inhabitants shall be at liberty to trade with all nations and particularly with 
ours, as they also try to do, up to this time, with all the ships that arrive there from these parts, 
whenever no English ships are on the coast, or ourcruizers happen forcibly to keep the English 
ships in check. 

We consider it (under correction) unnecessary to represent at any length what riches can 
yearly be introduced here from those countries, and what prosperity this trade hath conferred 
on the inhabitants of these parts, which might still further increase hereafter, the importance 
of this matter being submitted to the Lords of the Supreme government in divers lengthy 
remonstrances, so that we had rather refer thereto than to prolong this affair by 
tedious repetitions. 

We shall presume to add only this one word — that, in the opinion of those who claim to 
possess full knowledge of the subject, this trade is so important that the riches and prosperity 
it will bring to this country would equal the treasures yearly received from the East Indies, 
and the Directors consequently pledge themselves, to represent this matter in a short time, in 



548 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

a true light, not doubting, but so important a subject will be considered by their High 
Mightinesses in the Instruction to be given to Mess" the Ambassadors. 

(Signed) Ab. Wilmerdonx. 



ISAACK VAN BEEK. 



(Endorsed) 

Memoir to serve, with the approbation of their High Mightinesses, 
as an Instruction for their Excellencies, the Ambassadors at 
present in England, respecting the affairs of New Netherland 
and the Caribbean Islands. 1 



Extract from the despatch of Petrus Stuyvesant, Director in New Netherland, 
addressed to the Chamber of the West India Company at Amsterdam, dated 
2G lh November, 1G50. 

In my last by the Valckenier, I mentioned my intention to meet the Commissioners of 
the English Colonies in their appointed meeting at Herford on the Fresh river, for the purpose 
of proposing a Provisional Boundary. The following will serve as a brief account of 
our transactions. 

In regard to our official character wherewith you have been pleased to invest us, we have 
experienced, both in going and returning, much honor, respect and friendship from the English 
Colonies and Villages, as well as from Messrs. the Commissioners assembled as States. 

Some charges were brought in against the late Director Kieft and satisfaction demanded 
therefor; they were principally that Director Kieft had obstructed their trading houses and 
possession on the South river and on Long Island in Schouws bay, whence they were expelled 
and removed This was easily answered. 

We have held divers meetings and consultations respecting the limits, which was the chief 
occasion of my proceeding thither. 

And have so far progressed provisionally, until further meeting and subject to ratification 
by the principals on both sides, that no encroachments shall meanwhile be put in practice or 
committed on either side, either on the mainland between Stamfoort and Greenwich, or on 
Long Island at Oysterbay. In the meantime we shall be guided by whatever we learn from 
your Honors respecting the negotiations of Ambassador Schaep. 

Finally, a discussion ensued respecting the formation of a neighborly union in form of a 
league or guarantee against the offensive insolence and arrogance of the Barbarians and 
Natives, whereunto they appeared to us disposed. But as the English nation is so much 
stronger than ours in these parts, I proposed that the Commissioners in such extremity, 
whether defensive or offensive, ought to bring a double number at least to our single quota. 
To which they replied, that they then ought to have a double vote in declaring the lawfulness 
of the defence, or offence ; this their High Mightinesses and the Company might consider 
disreputable. Its conclusion was therefore postponed until the opinion of the principals on 
both sides be received. This, it strikes me would be a needful and desirable matter for this 
State and the only means to reduce the insolence of the Mohawks, and to prevent the Indians 
attempting anything against either the one or the other Nation, and at once prevent all further 

1 It is styled, post, p. 556, "Memoir of the Committee of Directors of the West India Company, representing the Assembly 
of the Nineteen." 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VII. 549 

invasion and usurpation on the lands situated within this jurisdiction, which I have considered 
necessary to communicate to your Honors, awaiting your advice thereon. 

(Endorsed) 

" Provisional Boundary between the English and our Nation 
" agreed upon at the Meeting of the Colonies at Herfort 
" A° 1650, respecting the lands situate in the North part of 
" America ; whereof our portion under the Director and 
" Charter of the West India Company, is now named New 
" Netherland, and that portion belonging to the English, 
" namely, the Country at the South, is by them called 
"Virginia; the other Countries taken up by them are 
" named New England." 
Read G Novb. 1653. 



He-solution of the States General on the preceding Papers. 

[ From the Register of West India Affairs, 1652 — 1663, in the Koyal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Saturday, the 8 th November, 1653. 
Folio 88. Read at the Assembly a certain Remonstrance of the attending Directors of the 

west India compa- West India Company, representing the Assembly of the Nineteen, and with it 
New Netherland. a Description of the Boundaries of New Netherland, requesting that their High 
Mightinesses' Deputies in England may among the other negotiations with England be 
particularly instructed also respecting the settlement of the boundary there. Which being 
considered, the Deputies of the Province of Gelderland have requested copies of the one and the 
other, which are hereby granted them. 



Captain Martin Krygier and others to the Burgomasters of Amsterdam. 

[Prom the Bundle entitled, Yeracheide stukken rakende ds Colonie van Wieuw Nederlandt, No. 1 ; in the Sttid fiuyn, Amsterdam. ] 

nmiand Documents, The dangerous and perilous conjunction of this present time, the continual 

XV., 165. * it* i • i i- fi» •iii-i 

dread in which we live of being at some moment surprised, the little means we 
these nm two rB when see prepared for protection in time of need, added to the zeal we all feel for the 

authenticated to bo 

placed in the hands welfare of this country, force us, at present, to take pen in hand, and to address 

or the riirenlnn of ■" 



of the Directors of 
the West India 
Company, Chamber 
at Amsterdam, to 



compaIy 8 chamber ourselves to you, Right Worshipful, and in all humility to beseech you to be 



examine'the a !!a'me° pleased to prevail on the Directors of the Incorporated West India Company, to 

1 To preserve the chronological arrangement adopted in the publication of each series of Documents in this work, it has 
been deemed advisable to print the translation of the papers contained in Volumes XV. and XVI. of the Holland Documents, 
in the order of their dates. To facilitate reference to the Dutch M3„ the number of the volume and the page is prefixed in 
the margin, at the beginning of each document thus transposed. — En 



550 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 



and ad 
farm th 



vise and in- w ] 10I1 i we also have applied by letter, that they, as Fathers and Patroons of this 

MApSuaM^™" country, have the goodness, in their wonted wisdom, to concert good and suitable 

f^bakmihok coo* means, tending to the protection and security of this state, to wit: Right 

Worshipful, the danger to which we are exposed is great and alarming; bitter foes without, 

and suspected neighbors round about, within discontented citizens and a government by no 

means as ample as the present conjuncture of affairs particularly demands. The character of 

the discontent of the citizens and inhabitants, you, Right Worshipful, can learn, if you will 

take the trouble to read the accompanying Remonstrance, the original whereof has been 

presented to the Director-General, Petrus Stuyvesant, who hath rejected it, as if it proceeded 

from an illegal Assembly. For the elucidation and support thereof, we have made some notes, 

which we annexed thereunto. Right Worshipful ! You will be able to observe from that 

Remonstrance and the subjoined observations, the faults wherewith this New Netherland 

government is polluted: (we respectfully honor the rulers personally:) and in your experienced 

wisdom, understand what remedies, especially in this dangerous time, ought to be applied to 

the removal thereof. This we hope, this we pray, this we expect from your Right Worshipful 

wisdom, and the favorable disposition which we trust you feel towards this country and this 

new city, which hath the honor to bear the name of that praiseworthy and renowned one, 

whose fathers you, Right Worshipful, are. Meanwhile, we shall not omit to contribute, as far 

as lies in our power, whatever shall be necessary for the service and advantage of this country. 

We pray God to take you, Right Worshipful, your city and citizens, into His holy protection, 

and remain, 

Right Worshipful, Most Wise, Prudent, 

Your most humble, obedient, and well-affected servants, 

(Signed) Martin Kringier. 

Done New Amsterdam, P. L. van die Grift. 

in New Netherland, this Geo. Baxter. 

30 December, A° 1653. Frederyck Lubbertste. 



Petition of the Commonalty of New Netherland, &c, to Director Stuyvesant. 

To the Right Honorable, the Director-General and Council of New Netherland, on the 
behalf of the Noble High and Mighty Lords States General of the United Provinces. 

\ # The Humble Remonstrance and Petition of the Colonies and Villages in this New 

Netherland Province. 

Humbly sheweth. 

n..iiand Documents First. We acknowledge a paternal government which God and Nature have 
xv., 163. established in the world for the maintenance and preservation of peace, and the 

good of mankind, not only agreeably to Nature's laws, but in accordance with the rules and 
precepts of God, to which we consider ourselves bound by His word, whereunto we submit. 

God, the Lord, having intrusted the States General as His Ministers, with the High and 
Mighty power, which we gratefully acknowledge, to promote the welfare of their subjects, both 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VII. 551 

of those within the United Provinces and in the foreign settlements thereunto belonging, and 
these having by their power and authority, commissioned, for the same purpose, some subaltern 
magistrates, such as the Directors of the Incorporated West India Company, whom we 
acknowledge as Lords Patroons of this place, with you as their representatives. 

We therefore humbly conceive our privileges to be the same, harmonizing in every respect 
with those of Netherland, being a Member dependent on that state and not a conquered or 
subjugated people, but settled here on a mutual covenant and contract entered into with the 
Lords Patroons, with the consent of the Natives, the original proprietors of these lands, from 
whom we purchased the soil with our own money. A portion thereof which we now possess, 
have we with immense labor and trouble and at our particular cost, transformed from a 
wilderness of woods and erected into a few small villages [with several bouweries], by 
a strict observance of the Freedoms and Privileges already granted. 

Expecting every enlargement and amplification, but no abridgement thereof, and deeply 
honoring and respecting the government of the Netherlands, made up of various Nations from 
divers quarters of the globe, leaving at our own expense our country and countrymen, we 
voluntarily repaired under its protection or shelter, being now incorporated, as it were in one 

2, body, under our Sovereigns, the High and Mighty Lords States General, whom we 

acknowledge as our Lieges, with due subjection to the general laws of the United Provinces of 
Netherland, and all other new orders and ordinances which, by virtue of the power and 
authority aforesaid, will be enacted here conformably to the customs, Freedoms, grants 
and privileges of the Netherlands. 

JJ, This being premised, we humbly pray that this our Remonstrance and Petition he received 

and construed favorably, and interpreted not sinisterly, but advantageously. We shall, therefore, 
frankly declare, with all humility, our apprehension and alarm which for some time have 
crushed our spirits and disheartened us, in our labors and callings, so that we, being in a 
wilderness, are unable to promote the good of the country with the same zeal and inclination 
as heretofore; the reasons whereof are as follow: 

zj_. First. Our apprehension of the establishment of an Arbitrary Government among lis. 'Tis 

contrary to the first intentions and genuine principles of every well regulated government, that 
one or more men should arrogate to themselves the exclusive power to dispose, at will, of the 
life and property of any individual, and this, by virtue or under pretense of a law or order he, 
or they, might enact, without the consent, knowledge or election of the whole Body, or its 
agents or representatives. Hence the enactment, except as aforesaid, of new Laws or orders 
affecting the Commonalty, or the Inhabitants, their lives or property, is contrary and opposed 
to the granted Freedoms of the Dutch Government, and odious to every freeborn man, and 
principally so to those whom God has placed in a free state on newly settled lands, which 
might require new laws and orders, not transcending, but resembling as near as possible, 
those of Netherland. We humbly submit that 'tis one of our privileges that our consent or 
that of our representatives is necessarily required in the enactment of such laws and orders. 
Secondly. We have been expecting, usually every year, that a new war will be again begun 
by the Natives of this country, from the murders they have committed under pretext that they 

5» have not been paid for their lands. This is the cause of many mischiefs and 
discouragements to the country, besides great loss and interruption to the inhabitants in their 
labor. We have been unable, thus far, to arrive at a precise knowledge thereof, or to 

{J» ascertain to what nation these murderers belong; but their acts are commonly 
disregarded, as those <_>/' Indians living at a great distance which fills us with daily anxieties, so that 



552 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

•y # we are compelled to stand on our own defence, and cannot discover any prepared 
way to protect our lives and property except by our own means. 

g # Thirdly. Officers and Magistrates, though by their personal qualifications deserving 
such honors, are appointed, contrary to the laws of Netherland, to divers offices without the 
consent or nomination of the people whom the matter most affects or concerns. 

{). Fourthly. Many Orders or Proclamations have been made heretofore by the authority 
alone of the Director and Council, without the approbation of the Country. We are wholly 
ignorant which are or are not in force, and consequently know not when we transgress these, 
but commit many offences in our ignorance, to the injury and ruin of ourselves and families. 
10« Fifthly. On the promises of Deeds and a General Patent of Freedoms and Privileges, 
various plantations have been made at great expense and trouble to the inhabitants, through 
building of houses, erecting fences, &c, tilling and cultivating the soil ; for example that of 
Middelborgh ! and Midtwout, 2 with their dependencies, besides several other places and 
individual bouweries, which have applied for general and particular deeds, but to their 
serious expense, having made various journeys from time to time and been put off, which 
excites suspicion of innovations, or that other conditions will be introduced, different from 
former stipulations. 

J. Sixthly. A quantity of land is given or granted to some person or persons, for their 

private profit, on which a whole village or hamlet of about 20 or 30 families might have been 
established. This must cause an immense loss to the Patroons and their future income 
or revenue, and at present greatly impair the strength of the Province, being under 
such circumstances ourselves incapable of defence, unless villages or settlements be planted 
or formed. 

Having reduced, for easy reference, our complaints or grievances under six heads or articles, 
we shall renew our allegiance, in the hope that satisfaction will be granted to the country 
according to established justice and all secret pretentions and received injuries terminated 
and arranged. Wherefore, having unfolded the hardships under which we labor, we shall 
apply ourselves to your Wisdom for the remedy. That effected, we shall remain thankful, 
all further application being unnecessary, whereunto, otherwise, we shall be compelled. 
Humbly praying your Honors' answer on each particular point or article, so that we may be 
accordingly satisfied, or proceed farther, as God shall us direct. Done this ll lh December, 
1653, in Amst. Below was — 

Your Honors' humble servants, 
(Signed) Arent van Hattem. Martin Krigier. 

P. L. van der Grift. Wil Wekman. 4 

PlETER WoLFERSEN. Geo : BAXTER. 

J. J. Hubbard. John Hickes. 

Tobias Eke. 3 Robert Coo. 

Tomas H. Hassard. William Wasborn. 

John Seaman. Thomas Spicer. 

Elbert Elbertsen. Frederick Lubbertsen. 

Paulus van der Beecke. Tomas Swartwout. 

and John Stryker. 

1 Newtown, L. I, ' Flatbush, L. I. ' Tobias Feecx. * William Beeckman. New -York Colonial Manuscripts, V., 26. The 
words within brackets, in the above petition, are added from the Record in the New •York Colonial Manuscripts, V., 22. — Ed. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS : VII. 553 

Short Notes in form of Explanation of some Points contained in the 
Remonstrance of the Colonies and Villages of the New Netherland 
Provinces, under the Sovereignty of the Noble, High and Mighty Lords 
States General of the United Netherlands and Obedience of the Incorporated 
West India Company, presented to the Hon ble Director General and Council 
of New Netherland, in the name and on the behalf of the Burgomaster and 
Schepens of the City of New Amsterdam and the respective Deputies of 
the Villages of Gravesend, Flushing, Middelborgh, Heemstede, Amersfort, 
Breuckelen and Midwout on the 12 ,h Dec r A" 16-53. 

1. 
xv'S"™™"' This Remonstrance was drawn up and written in English, by the Deputies 
from the English villages under the jurisdiction of the High and Mighty Lords States General 
and Incorporated West India Company and the Burgomasters and Schepens of this City of 
New Amsterdam, who, with Deputies from the Dutch villages, were, with the knowledge and 
cognizance of the Director General, invited to advise on the writing of a letter to the Lords 
Majors on the state of the country; and as the Burgomasters and Schepens have examined that 
Remonstrance together, and could find nothing in it prejudicial to the country and its 
inhabitants, nor to the abridgment of the power and authority of the said High Lords States, 
or of the West India Company abovementioned, they and the other their co-delegates thought 
proper to present the same, translated from English into Low Dutch, to the Director 
General and Council, as they have done on the ll lh Dec r 16-53, in the hope and expectation 
of receiving an answer on the points contained therein ; but in vain. On the aforesaid day 
the Director General and Council first charged that the Remonstrance was obscure and badly 
translated; next declared the aforesaid Assembly illegal, and protested against it; also rejected 
the same on account of this title: Address to the Director and Council ; lastly, charged and 
commanded the Burgomasters and Schepens aforesaid with the respective Deputies to 
assemble no more in manner as aforesaid, but to disperse forthwith, on pain of the highest 
displeasure and arbitrary correction. 

2. 
Under our Sovereigns the High and Mighty Lords States General, whom we acknowledge 
as our Lieges — without, however, excluding the Directors of the Incorporated West India 
Company, whom we honor, as already stated, as our Patroons, ready and willing to show 
them and their servants all due submission, honor and respect. 

3. 

We pray that this our Remonstrance and Petition may be received and construed favorably, 
and interpreted not sinisterly, but advantageously. As we declare that it has no other design 
than the good of the country and defense and preservation of the property and Freedoms 
of its inhabitants; not to commit any unlawful usurpation on any person's power and 
authority, to whatsoever office or service he may be lawfully appointed, but to prevent 
illegality and to remove and to anticipate troubles and mischiefs which have already overrun 
the country, or are yet to be apprehended ; therefore, though some obscurity may be apparent 
in this petition, it might be favorably interpreted, and should anything be found wanting, it 
may be graciously supplied. 

\ol. I 70 



554 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS 

4. 

First. Our apprehension of the establishment of an arbitrary government among us. 

Whether this apprehension be founded can appear from this: — The entire government of 
this Country is directed and controlled exclusively according to the pleasure and caprice of Dr. 
Stuyvesant or one or two of his favorite Sycophants; in divers cases decisions were given 
without the knowledge, yea, frequently without summoning his adjoined Councillors, who 
have no further power to decide except as the Director permits them, his will being a Law 
absolute, whereby everything is controlled ; even if the Burgomasters and Schepens were 
sometimes summoned to the Council when occasions presented, to dispatch business with the 
Director General and Council, it is, in fact, rather to approve of his plans than to assist in 
consultation upon them; for notwithstanding the Burgomasters and Schepens may dissent and 
differ from his opinion, the Director decides without them, declaring it must be so ; moreover, 
if any resolution be adopted with the consent of the Burgomasters and Schepens, 'tis changed 
and altered, without their knowledge, at the pleasure of the Director ; and lastly, to show how 
great an appearance there is of the establishment of an arbitrary government among us, 'tis 
considered sufficient that a Director, a fellow-subject of a Free State, though filling a high and 
honorable office, with arrogant words disclaims his fellow subjects who are assembled with his 
previous knowledge for the good of the country, and are thereunto convoked beforehand by 
the lawful Rulers of the first and most important City in this country, and present an humble 
Remonstrance, declares their Assembly illegal, protests against it, forbids the Members and 
Deputies thereof to meet again, orders and commands them to disperse forthwith on pain 
of his highest displeasure and arbitrary punishment, as if they were, by their acts, guilty of 
resisting authority and had conspired to revolutionize the State and reduce it under another 
Ruler and government. 

5. 

Under pretext that they have not been paid for their Lands : That such are the complaints 
and threats of the Indians is notorious, and divers persons have felt the effects thereof, in the 
loss of their lives; and as the present Director, as well as his predecessors, hath purchased 
divers lands from the Natives, as these daily pretend, but have never paid for them as yet, the 
consequence is, that discontent is excited among the Indians and a thirst for vengeance., which 
they wreak when opportunity offers. 

6. 

But their acts are commonly disregarded as the acts of Indians living at a great distance. 
Such was the excuse whenever complaints were made to the Director, instead of finding out 
proper means to secure the Inhabitants, and to save them from continual apprehension, some 
good dispositions being already evinced, but without any result. 

7. 
To stand on our own defence. Which defence cannot avail anything for the good of the 
country, unless we be permitted to assemble at proper times and concert together proper 
measures therefor. 

8. 
Officers and Magistrates, etc. The meaning and intention of this article is, that the 
nomination ought to belong to the people, the selection to the Director or to the Director and 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VII. 555 

Council, for such municipal offices and places as this city and the villages respectively require 
("or their government; that a Common Council ( VroeUchap) ought to be organized in this City 
to consist of a number of such persous as should be found in this place fit to fill such an office 
and to represent the body of the Commonalty; that in the villages which have hitherto had 
no Court of justice, one ought to be established, so that the people there may he governed with 
greater order than heretofore, and each, on occurring occasions, be judged by his competent 
Judges; but all this is left to the discretion of the Lords Majors. 

9. 
Many orders or proclamations, etc. It is a certain and notorious fact, that many ordinances 
which concern the country at large are enacted without its knowledge; 'tis strange that Laws 
are made in a Free Land, binding on all and each of the inhabitants also without convoking 
such people to consider them, who belong to the country and are persons of considerable 
substance and must also help to protect and defend the province; that no person is admitted 
at the reading of the enacted orders, nor allowed copies thereof, though demanded, whereby 
we are utterly ignorant of our duty. This might easily be remedied were such Rules and 
ordinances brought and preserved in one place where we might be allowed duly to examine 
and read them. 

10. 

On the promises of Deeds, etc. These promised Deeds are refused to divers and many 
persons, notwithstanding repeated and earnest applications have been made for them, and they 
are still refused to the great discontent of those who would rather resolve to abandon their 
undertaken bouweries, than expend much labor and money on lands, the possession and 
propriety whereof cannot be established. 

11. 
A quantity of land is given or granted to some person or persons. This article has 
reference principally to the fact that the Director conveyed last year, 1652, to Mr. Cornells 
van Werckhoven, a certain considerable tract of valuable and clear land, situate within the 
jurisdiction of Gravesend, which land had been previously granted in the year 1647, by 
Director Willem Kieft, deceased, to divers persons, and divided by lot in 21 parts, whereof the 
Poor of this place had 2 parts and every other person 1 part. 

And this is what we have thought proper to append to the present Remonstrance. Hoping 
that, hereby cleared of obscurity, its meaning and intention will be easily understood. 
Done this 30 th December, 1G-53, New Amsterd m , in New Netherland. 

(Signed) Martin Krigier. 

P. L. van die Grift. 
Geo. Baxter. 
Frederyk Lubbertse. 



556 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Burgomasters of Amsterdam to Director Siuyvesant. 

[ From the Books entitled, Genwen Missiven^ Deel 2, in the Stad I7uys, Amsterdam. ] 

To Petrus Stuyvesant, Director General of New Netherland and Curacao, at the Manhattans, 
in Fort New Amsterdam. 9 July, 1654. 

Honorable, wise, prudent, right, discreet Sir! 

iiniiand Documents Being informed by the governors of the alms-house of the vast number of poor 
XY ' 1S4 ' people wherewith they are burdened and charged, we have concluded to relieve 

them and so do the Company a service, by sending some of them to New Netherland. 

We have, therefore, sent over in the ship belonging to the bearer hereof, 7 (aX 2S boys and 
girls, requesting you, in a friendly manner, to extend to them your kind advice and assistance, 
and to advance them if possible ; so that they, according to their fitness, may earn their board. 
If you consider that the population of that country could be advanced by sending over such 
persons, we shall, on being informed, lose no time to have some more forwarded. Meanwhile, 
we shall be much obliged by the aid and assistance you will extend in this instance. 



Resolution of the States General calling for information respecting the Boundary 

of New Netherland. 

[ From the Rogister of West India Affairs, 1662 — 1663, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

• Thursday, 17 September, 1654. 

Folio ii6. On consideration, it is resolved and concluded hereby to request and require 

the Assembly of the Nineteen of the West India Company actually together here at the Hague, 

to communicate to their High Mightinesses as soon as it can possibly be done, a pertinent 

New Netherland report on the Boundary in New Netherland between the English and this State, 

Boundary. 

with the addition of all the necessary Maps and other Documents relating and 
applicable thereto. 



Resolution of the States General to forward information on the Boundary to their 

Ambassadors in England. 

[ From the Register of West India Affairs, 1652 —1653, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Tuesday the 29 ,h September, 1654. 

Foiio 120. Read at the Assembly, a certain Memoir of the committee of the Directors of 

the West India Company representing the Assembly of the Nineteen, who have exhibited, 

besides, agreeably to their High Mightinesses' Resolution of the 17 th instant, Pertinent 

New Netherland Information on the subject of the division of the Boundary in New Netherland, 

Boundary. J _ ... 

between the English and this State, along with a figurative Map illustrating the 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VII. 557 

same; which heing considered, it is resolved and concluded that the said information and Map, 
with the other documents, be sent to Mess" their High Mightinesses' Ambassadors in England, 
for the purpose of promoting the aforesaid settlement of the Boundary in conformity thereto, 
pursuant to their High Mightinesses' preceding Resolution. 1 



States General to the Ambassadors in England. 

[ From the Register of Uitgegane Uneven of the States General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

To Messrs. their High Mightinesses' Extraordinary Ambassadors in England. 

The States, etc. 
Foiio 287. Honorable, etc. We send you herewith the accompanying papers, respecting 

the Boundaries between the English and this State, in New Netherland, together with a 
figurative Map relating thereunto, with request that you will promote the settlement of the 
Boundary aforesaid agreeably thereto, pursuant to the preceding Resolutions, whereon 
relying, etc. Done 29 lh September, 1654. 



.» . ■ » ■— »- 



Ambassadors Beverningh and Nienpoort to the States General.. 

[From the Verbael fan Bevemingk, 611. ] 

No. 147. 

High and Mighty Lords 

My Lords. 

We have, in our last, advised your High Mightinesses that we presented on the 29 th of 
September, a Memoir, requesting that some commissioners may be assigned us to concert 
together a Marine Treaty, and can assure you hereby, that we not only have fully prepared 
ourselves since on this matter by an examination of what has been heretofore done, and by 
drawing up some articles extracted therefrom, but that we have daily, without intermission, 
both by our Secretary and by letters to Mr. Thurloe, 2 solicited some action, or even some 

1 The documents referred to in preceding Resolution are, Letter, supra, p. 541, Description, p. 542, and Memoir, p. 546. They 
■were received by the Ambassadors in England, 8th October, 1 654, and are printed in full in Verbael van Beverningk, 602. 

3 John Thurloe, son of Rev. Thomas Thurloe, rector of Abbots Roding, Essex county, England, was born in 1616. Having 
been called to the bar, he obtained the protection of Oliver St. John, afterwards Chief Justice of the Common Pleas and 
Secretary to Commissioners from the Parliament, at the treaty of Uxbridge. In 1651, Thurloe was appointed Secretary to 
the Embassy to Holland; in 1652, Secretary of the Council of State, and in 1653, Secretary of State under Cromwell, the 
Lord Protector. In 1655, he was at the head of the Postal department; in 1656 was returned to Parliament from Ely; in 
1657, was appointed a privy councillor, and after the Protector's death continued Secretary of State under Richard Cromwell, 
until January, 1660. In April following, he offered his services to Charles II., and was sent to prison by the House of 
Commons in Slay, on a charge of high treason, but was soon after set at liberty, when he retired to Great Hilton, Oxfordshire. 
He was offered several posts in the administration, after the Restoration, but declined them all, and died suddenly at Lincoln's 
Inn, on 21 February, 1668. Biogra/j/iie Universelle. His State Papers, published by Dr Birch in 1742,7 vols., fol., form a vast 
repository of most important documents relating to the History of England during the Protectorate, and contain some 
interesting papers on the projected invasion of New Netherland. — Ed. 



558 NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

answer, yet to this hour have not been so fortunate as to meet with any dispatch, the Lords 

of the Council being, either through the uncertainty of their position, whereof they will first 

see a final result, or in consequence of their continual occupation in Parliament, of which 

almost all of them are members, so embarrassed, that they have met only twice, and then but 

for a short time since the meeting of Parliament, as we believe we can with certainty state. 

Meanwhile, having received your High Mightinesses' subsequent resolution of the 19 

September, respecting visiting the ships, we accordingly somewhat modified our drafted articles, 

and shall also endeavor to fulfill your High Mightinesses' intentions expressly on this head, as 

much as possible; we shall likewise, when occasion presents, make use of the letters sent to 

us, and regulate ourselves according to your High Mightinesses' resolution of the 24 lb September, 

respecting the remaining matters and complaints which, pursuant to the 30 lh article of the 

Peace, might be referred to the Swiss Cantons. And touching the further resolution of 

the twenty-fourth September, we shall, with your High Mightinesses' permission, not engage at 

present to give any notice on the direct infraction of the Proclamation of the 9 ,h October, 1651, 

here promulgated, as your High Mightinesses were pleased to instruct us, in the hope that, in 

some conferences with the Commissioners on this side, we may be better informed as to the 

considerations that may occur on this subject, or respecting the expectation which may be 

apparent on this side; in other respects we will not neglect to obey your High Mightinesses' 

commands on this point, to the best of our ability, and to fulfill your good intention touching 

the affair of the Boundaries of New Netherland, your High Mightinesses' resolution of the 29 th 

September, on that subject, having been received yesterday. The affair of the ship Eendraght, 

mentioned in our last, and in your High Mightinesses' resolution of the lS th September, 

received for the first time on the 5 th of this month, could not be advanced by reason of the 

aforesaid want of opportunity, the non-meeting of the Lords of the Council. In like manner 

we tried every means all day yesterday, but in vain, to procure the release of the eleven ships, 

whereof the list is inclosed, which were captured off Havre de Grace, and brought into 

Portsmouth and this river. We shall, however, unremittingly and zealously follow this matter 

up, and not only contend for the release of the ships and indemnification of the freight, which 

the skippers say was offered to them, and they were disposed to receive, but also of the cargo 

itself, in accordance with your High Mightinesses' resolution of the lG ,h September last. 

Being further under the necessity of submitting to your High Mightinesses the complaints of 

the inhabitants of Yarmouth, which you will please to learn from the accompanying 

transcribed and translated affidavits; they were placed in our hands yesterday afternoon by 

Sir Strickland, in the name and by order of his Highness and the Council, and we have 

promised to write to your High Mightinesses by this occasion, with the assurance that you are 

favorably disposed to prevent and forbid in every way, all excesses and imposition, and that 

you would also effectually provide against the same, having even resolved to write to the 

Commander of the Fishing fleet, to send up circumstantial and particular information on 

the subject. Wherewith we shall pray God mercifully to bless your High Mightinesses' 

laudable government, and remain, 

High and Mighty Lords, 

Your High Mightinesses' 

Westminster, 9 th October, 1C54. Humble servants. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VII. 559 

P. S. After having written thus far, we fortunately learned from a Lord of the Council, 
that an order is to be issued on the earliest occasion for the release of the above ships, and 
that the Captains or Commanders of the ships of war will be expressly instructed to abstain, 
in future, from the capture of such ships, whereof we hope to advise more fully in our next. 1 

Resolution of the States of Holland and Westfriesland, dated 4 lh December, 
1654. 

Boundary in New The Grand Pensionary 2 hath communicated to the Assembly a despatch from 
Mess" Beverningk and Nieupoort, extraordinary Ambassadors from this State to 
England, written to him from Westminster, the 27 lh of last month, with an appendix 
containing ample information of what they have done in the matter of the Boundary in New 
Netherland, between the subjects of this State and those of England. 

Which being considered, it is resolved and concluded, that it be sent to the States General, 
in order that their High Mightinesses may transmit copy of said Despatch and Appendix to the 
Presidial Chamber of the West India Company here, with request to be furnished at the earliest 
date with its conclusions and opinion thereupon and to receive pertinent information on all the 
points more fully detailed in said letter. 



Ambassadors Beverningk and Nieupoort to Secretary Hmjscli. 

[ From the Original in the Eoyal Archives at the nague ; File, Eiigeland ; No. 18. Verbael van Beverningk, p. 693. ] 

Sir. 

In answer and reply to their High Mightinesses' letter and Resolution of the 29 ,h 
September, respecting the Boundary between the English and those of this State in New 
Netherland, they will be hereby respectfully informed, that among the documents relating to this 
matter we have found no other Instruction than the Memoir numbered l, 3 touching the Limits 
and Jurisdiction claimed there; a Description of the Limits there, No. 2, 4 and two Extracts, of 
letters written by Director Stuyvesandt, the first of the 29 ,b November, 1650, 5 and the other 

1 The source from which the above dispatch is derived, is not stated. It is printed in the Verbael van Beverningk, p. 611. 
Messrs. Beverningk, Nieuport and Jongstal were Ambassadors to England at this date. 

5 John de Witt, one of the greatest statesmen that Holland ever produced, was born on the 25th September, 1625, in the 
city of Dort. Having received the degree of Doctor of Laws, he traveled some years, and on returning home was appointed 
Pensionary of Dort; next elected in 1653 Grand Pensionary of Holland, Intendant of the Fiefs and Keeper of the Great 
Seal. The war with England was very trying to his Administration, and he put forth all his powers to restore the National 
fleet. The partizans of William III., Prince of Orange, demanded his appointment as Stadholder which De Witt 
opposed, believing it falal to the liberties of the country. An act followed excluding his Royal Highness forever from that 
office. This exclusion and the misfortunes that overtook Holland in 1672, caused the ruin of this pure and able Magistrate. 
He was arrested, accused of being in league with the enemy, stripped of all his offices and sentenced to perpetual 
banishment. On the 20th of August, 1612, and in the 47th year of his age, he was seized, with his brother Cornells, on 
leaving the prison to obey this sentence, and massacred by the populace of the Hague, after which the bodies of both were 
most grossly insulted. Moreri. — Ed. 

'Supra, p. 546. 'Supra, p. 542. ' Supra, p. 541. 



5G0 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS 

of the 27 th July last; with a figurative Map of the situation of these Countries. And, howbeit 
we have clearly understood from the aforesaid Map and Memoir, the intentions of Mess" the 
Directors, regarding the pretended Limits; yet as regards the Title and right thereunto, we 
do not (with respect) find ourselves so well provided with the irrefragable reasons and 
arguments which are requisite in dealing with such a Nation as this, and in such a matter, 
consisting entirely of facts ; the first occupation and possession as well as the purchase of the 
grounds and lauds being merely in general presupposed, but nothing in the world has reached 
us in support either of the one or the other. Yet, according to the letter even of Director 
Stuyvesandt, the English there made this objection to him: That their High Mightinesses' 
subjects in those parts, had not any patent from them, nor any proof of purchase. Wherefore 
we have taken the trouble not only further to inform ourselves by those who may have fuller 
knowledge of this matter but to look up attentively the descriptions by the English themselves, 
in order to learn therefrom what we consider applicable to our purpose. Yet we cannot in all 
this, satisfy ourselves as to the unsoundness of the position of those on this side who allege 
not only the right of purchase but also of notorious prior possession in divers parts, as we are 
informed by them. Having also been unable to learn aught of any Provisional agreement 
concluded at Hartfort in the year 1G50, mentioned in Stuyvesandt's first letter, above referred 
to, or to find any other proof thereof among the papers than the mere mention of it, when an 
authentic extract, or something similar, in a matter of such importance ought to be exhibited ; 
and, moreover, having observed in the answer which the Lords of the Council gave heretofore 
to the 12 th of the 3G articles, 1 that they seem entirely to ignore their High Mightinesses having 
any Colonies in those parts ; nay, they waive defining the Boundary entirely as of no 
consideration; and having seen from the letters aforesaid of the abovementioned Stuyvesandt, 
first, that he is of opinion that the English cannot be removed from what they occupy, and 
that they are in possession as the strongest, they having crawled within eight leagues of the 
Manhattans and the North River; and secondly, that he is everywhere of opinion that we 
ought to hold what we have, though at the loss of what is already taken away, in order to 
exclude the English at least from the district lying between the aforesaid North and South 
Rivers, presupposing that by far the best lands are to be found there; and that he appears 
convinced that nothing final will ever be concluded here in Europe between the two States 
respecting the Boundary, without the consent of those English who are on the ground ; we 
also being of this last opinion — that the most we have to expect here will be a reference to the 
Governors and Council there for information, whilst according to the nature and interest of 
this government, we cannot see that they will engage in it otherwise as principals, and that 
by such reference with writing hither and thither so much time is lost; we have, under 
correction, considered it our duty respectfully to submit to their High Mightinesses, whether 
they would not be of opinion that we should so direct this matter, that authority be sent from 
both governments to the Governors aforesaid to come mutually to an agreement in that 
country in the best and most friendly manner, subject to the approval and ratification of both 
governments. Hereupon we shall expect their High Mightinesses' orders by the first 
opportunity, having meanwhile prepared the inclosed Memorandum in order, at the first 
Conference, to expose our intention and in respect to the alternative, to forward the work 

1 Supra, p. 486. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VII. 



561 



according to their High Mightinesses' good intention and subsequent resolutions. We 
remain, 

Sir, 

Your affectionate servants, 
Westminster if November. (Signed) H. V. Beverningk. 1 

Received 5 December, 1654. Wil" 1 Nieupoort. 



Appendix, received 5 December, 1654. 

Memorandum. 

Cum primo itidem articulorum pacis etc. Whereas in like manner by the first of the 

conventum et praecautum sit, ut firma et Articles of Peace &c. it has been agreed and 

inviolabilis pax, sincera intimior atque arctior provided that there should be a firm and invio- 

affinitas confoederatio et unio sit inter utramque lable peace, a sincere, more close and intimate 

rempublicam, terrasque regiones, civitatesque connection, confederation and union between 

sub utriusqueditione, sine distinctione locorum the two republics, and the countries, provinces 

positas, eorumque populum et incolas. and cities under their respective jurisdiction, 

together with the people and inhabitants of the 
same, without distinction of place. 

Et secundo uti utraque pars omnibus And by the second, that each party should 

laesionibus direptionibus, deprasdationibus henceforth abstain from all injuries, plunder- 

injuriisque per terram mare et aquas dulces, ings, depredations and wrongs, whether by 

in omnibus suis Terris, regionibus, dominiis land, by sea, or by fresh waters, throughout 

locis et praefecturis, quibuscunque deinceps all their respective lands, provinces, dominions, 

abstineat. places and governments, whatsoever. 

Et non vanis rumoribus dominis ordinibus And by good authority it has become known 

ge[ne]ra!ibus innotuerit quod in continent] sep- to our States General that on the continent of 

tentrionalis Americas plaga, non adeo firma ami- North America a firm friendship and sincere 

citia sinceriorque confoederatio, inter utriusque confederation are not so observed between the 

reipublicas populos ibidem commorantes obser- subjects of the two republics there resident, 

vetur: quin et a laesionibus injuriisque non but that they do not altogether abstain from 

omnino abstineatur. injuries and wrongs. 

Cum tamen Hartfordiensi conventu anno And whereas in a convention at Hartford in 

1650 inter utriusque nationis directores et the year 1650 between the Directors and 

assessores, provisional! decreto in hancregulam Councillors of each nation, it was, by a pro- 

conventum esset: uti possidetis ita possideatis visional decision, agreed to follow this rule: 

1 Jerome van Beverninck was born at Tergou, in Holland, on the 25th of April, 1614, whence he was sent in 1646, as a 
Deputy to the Provincial Legislature. The States of Holland sent him in 1060, to invite those of Utrecht to the extraordinary 
session of the States General in 1651. He represented his native town in the States General, in 1653, in which year he was 
sent Ambassador to England, and concluded a treaty of peace with that country in April, 1654. Whilst Ambassador, he 
was appointed Treasurer General of the United Provinces; he resigned that office in 1655. Exclusive of the negotiations 
with England, he was also one of the Plenipotentiaries in the peace concluded by the Dutch with the Bishop of Munster, with 
the French and Spaniards, and finally with the Elector of Cologne ; after having filled with honor many difficult commissions, 
he was finally sent to Nimeguen, as Ambassador Plenipotentiary, to expedite the peace which was signed there on the 10th of 
August, 1678. After this, he retired to his farm in the vicinity of Leyden, where he devoted himself to agriculture. Mr. 
Beverninck died of a violent fever on the 30th October, 16U0, aged 76 years. Moreri. — Ed. 



I 



71 



562 



NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 



donee utriusque reipublicas proceres aliter that each party should keep what it possessed 

convenerint ant prrecidaneam hanc conven- until the authorities of the two States should 

tionem ratihabuerint. determine otherwise, or should ratify this 

• convention. 

A sua parte ita etiam proponunt et condu- On their part, accordingly, the Ambassadors 

cere posse existimant unitarum provinciarum Extraordinary of the United Provinces propose 

extra ordinem legati. and recommend. 

Uti recti, certi, immotique limites ibi quam- That as soon as possible, there be established 

primum constituantur, quos excedere, aut there, right, certain and immovable boundaries 

transgredi in posterum neutri nationum liceat. which neither nation shall be allowed to exceed 

or pass over. 

Parati quovis tempore subditorum suorum Being prepared at any time to show by maps, 

et incolarum ibi proprietates jurisdictiones et and to sustain by other documents, the pro- 

immotas limites in mappis figuratis ad oculum prietorships, jurisdictions, and unchanged 

demonstrare, aliisque documentis astruere. boundaries of their subjects and of the inhabi- 
tants there resident. 

Vel etiam, si ita potius visum sit, totum hoc Or even, should it be preferred, to submit this 

negocium ad arbitrium eorum Gubernatorum whole affair to the arbitration of those Govern- 

et assessorum referre, qui in iisdem septentri- ors and Councillors who preside in those same 

onalis Americas plagis, nomine et auctoritate provinces of North America, in the name and 

utriusque regimine praesident: ut amicissima authority of the two States: that by the most 

qua fieri poterit via, meliorique modo inter se friendly way possible they may the better 

conveniant, conventionisque siue tabulas agree among themselves, and send the records 

transmittant a Seren: sua celsitudine domin- of their convention to be confirmed by the 

isque Ordinibus Generalibus ratihabitione mutual ratification both of his Serene Highness 

reciproca, si ita couducere existiment, con- and of the States General, if they shall see fit. 
firmandas. 



Resolution of the States General on the preceding Papers. 

I From the Register of West India Affairs, 1652 — 1663, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Wednesday, 9 ,h December, 1654. 
Foiio 140. The Assembly again had under consideration the despatch of their High 

Mightinesses' Ambassadors in England, written in Westminster, the 27 th of the last month, 
addressed with an appendix to Secretary Ruysch, containing full information of what they had 
Boundary of New done in the matter of the Boundary in New Netherland, between the subjects of 
this State and those of England. Which being considered, it is resolved and 
concluded, that copy of said letter and appendix be sent to the presiding Chamber of the West 
India Company, at Zealand, and to that of Amsterdam, requesting and requiring them to 
communicate their opinions and advice thereupon at the earliest period, together with pertinent 
information on all the points more fully set forth in that letter. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VTI. 563 

States General to the West India Company. 

[ From the Register of Citgegane Brieven of the Slates General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

To the presiding Chamber of the West India Company at Middelburgh, in Zealand. Item, 
mutatis mutandis to the Amsterdam Chamber of the West India Company. 

The States, Era 
Folio 8or. Honorable, etc. Herewith we transmit you the accompanying extract from our 

resolutions adopted on the despatch of our Ambassadors in England, dated 27 th November last, 
Boundaries of New respecting the Boundaries of New Netherland, together with copy of said letter, 
and the documents thereunto, requesting and requiring you to regulate yourselves 
precisely according to the tenor of our resolution aforesaid. Relying whereupon, etc. Done 
9 th December, 1654. 



Chamher at Amsterdam to the States General. 

[From the Original in the Royal Archives at the Uague; File Engelamd. ] 

High and Mighty Lords. 

Your High Mightinesses' despatch of the 9 ,b instant with the accompanying copy of the 
letter of Mess" your High Mightinesses' Ambassadors, dated the 27 lh November last, was duly 
handed to us. In answer thereunto we have to say, that we have further examined the entire 
circumstances and condition of matters in New Netherland and found them, as your High 
Mightinesses will be able to perceive from the annexed compilation, to which we have only to 
add that, in our humble opinion the negotiation in England will be best directed if the 
Boundary be settled according and conformably to the Provisional Agreement concluded at 
Hartford, in the year 1650, and in case this proposition cannot be carried out, then to proceed 
with the second plan, namely to allow the Boundary to be arranged in New Netherland subject 
to the approval of the principals on both sides; we, nevertheless, refer ourselves to your High 
Mightinesses' wise consideration and conclusions. 

Wherewith, terminating this letter, we pray God Almighty to be pleased to bless your 
High Mightinesses' persons and government and remain, 
High and Mighty Lords, 

Your High Mightinesses' humble Servants, 
The Directors of the West India Company Chamber at Amsterdam. 

Amsterdam 30 th December, 1654. (Signed) Isaack van Beeck. 

Received 2 January, 1655. Paulus Timmerman. 



5G4 NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Memoir of the English encroachments on New Netherland. 

[From Ihu MS. in Hi* l'.oyat Archives al llio Hague; File, EngeUinO.) 

Memoir, drawn up from divers letters, papers and documents comprising the 
situation of New Netherland, who its first discoverers and possessors were, 
together with the unreasonable and violent usurpations committed by the 
English there on the lands lying within the limits of the Incorporated 
West India Company. Appendix, received 2 January, 1056. 

New Netherland is situate on the North coast of America, in latitude 3S to 41 J degrees 
or thereabouts along the coast, being bounded on the Northeast by the countries now called 
New England, and on the Southwest by Virginia. 

This district or country, which is right good and salubrious, was first discovered and found, 
in the year 1609, by the Netherlander, as its name imports, at their own cost by means of 
one Hendrick Hudson, Skipper and Merchant, in the ship the Halve Maine sailing in the service 
of the Incorporated East India Company; for the Natives or Indians on his first arriving 
there, regarded the ship with mighty wonder and looked upon it as a Sea monster, declaring 
that such a ship or people had never before been there. 

That this country was first of all discovered and found out by Netherlander, appears also 
from the fact that all the islands, bays, harbors, rivers and places, even a great way on either 
side of Cape Cod, called by our people New Holland, have Dutch names which were given by 
Dutch navigators and traders. 

In the year 1610, some merchants again sent a ship thither from this country and obtained 
afterwards from the High and Mighty Lords States General a grant to resort and trade 
exclusively to those parts, to which end they, likewise, in the year 1615, built on the North 
River, about the Manhattans, a redoubt or little fort, wherein was left a small garrison, some 
people usually remaining there to carry on trade with the Natives or Indians. This was 
continued and maintained until their High Mightinesses did, in the year 1622, include this 
country of New Netherland in the Charter of the West India Company. 

This Province of New Netherland was, then, immediately occupied and taken possession 
of by the said Company, as circumstances permitted, as is the case in all new undertakings. 
For which purpose they caused to be built there, since the year 1623, four forts, to wit : two 
on the North River, namely, Amsterdam and Orange; one on the South River, called Nassouw, 
and the last on the Fresh River called the Hope. From the beginning a garrison has been 
always stationed and maintained in all these forts. 

The aforesaid Company had erected these forts both Southward and Northward, not only 
for the purpose of closing and appropriating the aforesaid rivers, but likewise the lands around 
them and within their borders, (being then about sixty leagues along the coast,) and on the 
other side of the rivers so far as title by occupation tends to possession, to declare as their own 
and to preserve them against all foreign or domestic nations who would endeavor to usurp the 
same contrary to the Company's will and pleasure. 

And for greater quiet and security and in order lawfully to confirm their possession, the 
Company caused their servants to purchase from the Natives there, many and divers lands 
situated on various places, the deeds and conveyances whereof remain with the Directors in 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VII. 5G5 

New Netherland ; Boundary posts were erected thereupon and to these were affixed the arms 
of their High Mightinesses in order to notify other nations coming there, that the country is 
owned and possessed. 

The subsequent circumstances of the country alone prevented the occupation by forts of the 
rivers of Pequatoos focket and Marinkansick, 1 otherwise called Sloops Bay, these being situate 
this side of Cape Cod. 

Which circumstances being perceived by the English of New Plymouth in New England, 
they began to build some leagues above the Company's fort, the Hope, a trading house 2 of 
which one Master Prinsen was the first commander. 

Wouter van Twiller, the Company's Director duly protested against this in the year 1635, 
and admonished the said Prinsen to remove without the Company's possessed jurisdiction, 
who, refusing, placed himself on the defensive. This Prinsen remained in possession, though 
unlawfully, because the Company's servants were not authorized to show any hostility to 
the English. 

The latter becoming bold from time to time in their country, increasing in numbers in 
consequence of the troubles in England, encroached towards the west below Cape Cod on the 
Dutch limits, absorbing Rhode Island, Blocx Island, Martin's Vineyard, Sloops Bay, howbeit, 
possession had been taken of it, in the year 1636, for the Company by one Abraham Pieterssen 
of Haerlem on the Island Quetenis situate in front of said bay, and Pequatoos river which they 
pretend to have conquered by force of arms from the natives, inasmuch as they have wholly 
subjugated that Nation. 

The English not satisfied with the foregoing usurpations, though situate within the New 
Netherland limits, continued these improper proceedings, and have, contrary to the law of 
nations (inasmuch as all the lands thereabouts were purchased by the Company's servants) 
and against a multitude of protests, founded a comely city, called Hartford, about a gunshot 
from Fort Hope on the Fresh River, together with divers other towns and hamlets. 

The English afterwards perceiving no consequence or obstruction to follow those protests, 
went on and six leagues to the westward built a handsome city called New Haven with some 
villages and hamlets. Divers protests were made against this, as aforesaid. 

Long Island which is encompassed Southwardly by the Great Ocean and Northwardly by 
the East River, and is about 30 leagues in length, was, before the English had any pretension, 
or ever made any claim to it, taken possession of by the Dutch by planting the villages 
of Amersfoort, Heemstede, Flushing, Gravesend and Breuckelen with a goodly number of 
bouweries and plantations, the inhabitants whereof are all subjects and vassals of their High 
Mightinessses and of the Company. 

Notwithstanding which the English of New Haven, (called Rodenbergh by the Dutch of 
olden times) have planted on the East end of Long Island two little villages named 
Southampton and Southold. 

[In like manner] in the Krommegou which is an inland sea in Long Island, have they 
usurped what is called Garnaets Island, which belongs to Long Island, and lies very convenient 
for the Cod fishery. 

The Company remarking that no benefit was derived from protests, but that the English 
proceeded boldly and continuously in their unrighteous usurpations there, wrote, in order to 
stay further encroachment, to their Director Stuyvesant whom they authorized to agree on a 

1 Sic. Now Naraganset. * Springfield, founded by Mr. Pynchoon. — Ed. 



5GG NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Provisional Boundary with the English. lie, accordingly, repaired to a certain meeting of 
Commissioners summoned by the English at Hartford, where they mutually agreed and 
concluded on a Provisional Boundary subject to the ratification of the principals on both sides, 
as can be more fully seen by the letter dated 2G November, 1G50, of the aforesaid Director with 
whom the agreement thereof remains. 

Yet the aforesaid English cannot respect this Provisional Boundary which was concluded at 
such a sacrifice and to such prejudice of the Company's established right, obtained by prior 
possession and purchase of the lands, as already stated; for sometime afterwards, and now 
lately, they bave not hesitated to commit fresh usurpation on the lands situate within the 
aforesaid Provisional Boundary, purchased from the natives or owners and paid for by 
the said Director some years before, as can be seen by his letter dated the 27 ,b July, 1654. 
All which insufferable usurpations by neighbors and allies, are in every part a violation of the 
law of nations, and consequently ought not and cannot be longer endured, unless by wantonly 
abandoning and giving up this Noble Province of New Netherland, which is of such great 
importance to this State. As such abandonment would be highly disreputable to this country 
and detrimental to its inhabitants, we will trust that their High Mightinesses will maintain the 
Company in their good right, and moreover take care that a mutual Boundary between 
the nations in those parts shall at once be concluded and determined. The sooner this is 
effected the better, ere the rupture become irremediable. 

In this manner, then, have the English by unrighteous usurpations, made themselves masters 
of all the beforementioned places, aud especially of the beautiful Fresh river. They well 
knew that the Company had not only ratified the possession of the aforesaid river by the 
construction of its fort and some bouweries besides, but that it had, particularly in the year 
1G32, purchased from the natives and proprietors many lands thereabout, which were 
accordingly conveyed to it, long before the coming thither of any English, who first arrived 
there in the year 1G36. 

Neither is it unknown to them that the Company did, about the same time, cause to be 
purchased by one Hans van der Sluys, a certain place called Kivitshoeck, as their High 
Mightinesses' arms were affixed to a tree, at that place, in token of possession; the English not 
only pulled them down, but even carved a buffoon's face in their stead, in gross contempt and 
disrespect of their High Mightinesses; and although satisfaction was repeatedly demanded for 
this, nought has resulted or could be obtained. Subsequently, and about the time the troubles 
between the King and his Parliament broke out in England in acts of hostility, the English 
who have so unlawfully usurped the aforesaid Fresh river, made an offer to the Company's 
servants in those parts to pay a yearly acknowledgment or buy them out, for which purpose 
they also sent hither one Mr. Hugh Peters, a minister at Salem, whom they empowered and 
authorized to agree with the Company about this matter; which, indeed, is a sure sign and 
proof that they are conscious of occupying not their own, but the Company's lawful lands. 

In like manner did the English usurpers of Rhode Island, when at loggerheads with those 
of the Bay, also apply to the Company's servants there to permit them to hide, and even to 
settle among the Dutch, of all which the pieces and documents remain with the Directors of 
New Netherland. 

But since the change occurred in the government of England, they have, in order to gloze 
over their actions, had recourse to divers subterfuges, circumstances, forged pretenses and false 
arguments, to obscure and overthrow the Company's lawful claims and just right, so that 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VII. 567 

the Company's servants have had various (inferences with them on this head, and (hefore the 
Provisional Boundary was concluded,) the most the English could be brought to, was to 
declare that the matter could not be arranged in that country, and that they were fully content, 
and wished that their High Mightinesses should settle the difference with their Sovereign here. 

Proposals of Mr. Peters' to the Amsterdam West India Company, 1G41. 

1° That the Honorable Company will please to devise some expedient for the settlement of the 
Boundaries between New England and New Netherland, or at least to define for us their limits. 

2° That their Honors will wholly abstain from molesting our people on the Fresh river, 
alias Coniecticutt, since we are willing that our title should be investigated by indifferent 
persons, if any such can be found. 

3° That said Company set a price on their plantation, if they have any intention to part 
with it. 

4° What conditions would the Company require if any Englishmen remove from our 
district to the West India Continent, being provided therefor with all necessaries except ships 
and ordinance which the Company should furnish? 

■5° The Company being aware that the English in America are about 50,000 inhabitants 
(mannen) 2 will please inform us in what manner can we, who are of the same religion 
with themselves and, we hope, trustworthy, be employed in advancing the great work there, 

■ The Reverend Hugh Peters, the descendant of a wealthy and ancient English family, was born in 1599, and graduated 
at Cambridge, England, in 1622. He received holy orders from Dr. Mountain, Bishop of London ; but in consequence of the 
active part he took against the bishops, he was forced to leave the country, and to retire to Holland, where he officiated 
as minister to an English congregation at Rotterdam. He proceeded to New England in 1634, and was there elected minister 
of the church at Salem, and officiated afterwards in the great meeting-house in Boston, at which place he enjoyed a high 
reputation and was much respected. After a residence in New England of seven years, he was sent by the colonies as their 
Ambassador to the Parliament of England, for the purposes mentioned in the text, and also to obtain some favorable com- 
mercial privileges. On his arrival, he found the civil war at its height, and attached himself to the Parliamentarians with a 
"zeal which overwhelmned his judgment." He visited Hollaud in 1643, in several cities of which country he preached so 
violently against Charles I. that the English Ambassador, Boswell, was under the necessity of complaining of him to the 
States General. He delivered a series of discourses to the English congregation at Amsterdam, in which he accused the king 
of exciting the Catholics of Ireland against Cromwell and his partisans in that country; and such effect had these sermons, 
that crowds of women, it is said, gave their wedding-rings to supply the English malcontents with funds. The Dutch 
connived at the whole of these proceedings. Peters was subsequently appointed chaplain to Cromwell, of whom he was so 
thorough a partisan, that he gave God thanks for the Drogheda massacre, where between three and four thousand people 
were put to death in cold blood. In the part he took against Charles L, his opposition assumed the character of the bitterest 
passion, and he is represented as having uttered the most terrible denunciations against that unfortunate monarch in the 
sermon which he preached before his majesty previous to his execution. "Bind fast your king with chains, and your nobles 
with fetters of iron," were the words which he is said to have taken for his text, when he compared Charles to Barabbas, 
and the red-coats to saviours and saints, "not inferior to those who surround the throne of God." But it is to be hoped that 
in this particular the accusation is overcharged, for Dr. Lingard says, "it should be recorded to the honor of that fanatical 
preacher," that it was at the request of Hugh Peters, that Dr. Juxon, Bishop of London, had been permitted to attend on 
Charles preparatory to his death. After the Restoration, the Reverend Mr. Peters was accused as a regicide. His trial was 
a scene of fliigrnnt injustice. He was allowed no counsel, and was sentenced to die, though even false witnesses did not 
substantiate the charges on which he was condemned. He was hanged on the 14th October, 1660, exhibiting, even at the 
gallows, the most indomitable courage. "You may do your worst," was his last address to his unfeeling executioner; and 
with these words, " the 6rst freeman of Massachusetts who lost his life for opposition to monarchy," was launched into 
eternity. His course and his character have been differently appreciated by friends and enemies. Those praise and these 
asp. rsc, according as bias has swayed their judgment. Win. ever wishes to arrive at a just conclusion, may consult Bancroft's 
United Sta'es, I., 383; II., 32; Aitzema, II., 936; Von Reaumer's Political History of Eat/land, II., 399 ; and Lingard's History 
of England, X., 257. — En. 

'The population of the English Coiouie;, in 1660, was estimated to be eighty thousand. Holmes' Annals. 



568 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

and furnish us with an excerpt of such government as they, on our uniting with them there 
would desire. 

6° That the Company may be pleased in all things to consider the inhabitants of New 
England, who number about 40,000, as a people covetous on their side of peace and of 
the propagation of the Gospel above all worldly things, and no ways desirous of causing the 
Company either trouble or loss. 

Authority to the Reverend Mr. Peters to treat with the West India Company. 

Whereas Mr. Hugh Peters, Minister of Salem, the bearer hereof, is sent at the public request 
to England, to negotiate with the present Parliament respecting such matters as concern us 
which we confide to his care and fidelity, 

This is to authorize him, if occasion permit him to go to the Netherlands, to treat with the 
West India Company there, concerning a peaceable neighborhood between us and those of 
New Netherland, and whatever he shall further think proper touching the West Indies, to the 
end that we may have union and intercourse with one another, God willing, in a matter of 
such great importance the details to be negotiated are referred to such propositions as shall be 

presented on meeting together. 

(Signed) John Winthrop, 1 
The 10 th October, 1641 Governor of Massachusetts 

In the bay of Massachusetts John Haynes, 2 

in New England. Governor of Connecticutt. 



Resolution of the States General on the Treatij at Hartford. 

[From the Register of West India Affairs, 1G52 — 1003, in the Royal Archives at the Ilague. ] 

Saturday, 2 January, 1655. 
F0110143. Received a letter from the Directors of the West India Company, Chamber at 

Amsterdam, dated the 30 ,h ultimo, together with some inclosures, in answer to their High 

1 JonN Winthrop, first Governor of Massachusetts, was born at Groton, in Suffolk county, January 12, 158V, and was bred 
to the law. Having converted a fine estate of 6 or 700/. per annum into money, he embarked for America, in the 43d year 
of his a"e, aB the leader of those persons who settled the colouy of Massachusetts, and with a commission as Governor. lie 
arrived at Salem June 12, 1630, and soon removed to Charlestown, and afterwards crossed the river to Shawmut or Boston. 
In the three following years he was rechosen Gevernor, for which office he was cminentl}' qualified. He was reelected in 
1037, 1038 and 1639, and in 1642, 1043, 1646, 1647 and 1648. He died, worn out by toils and depressed by afflictions, March 
20, 1049, aged 61. He kept an exact account of occurrences and transactions in the colony down to the year 1648, which was 
of great service to Hubbard, Mather and Prince. It, was not published till the year 1790, when it was printed in 8vo. A 
manuscript of the third volume of Winthrop's history was found in 1816, in the New England library, kept in the tower of 
the old South church. Mr. James Savage transcribed it, and, adding notes to this and the work already printed, published a 
new edition in 2 vols. 8vo., 1825. Allan. 

* Jouk Haynes, Goveruor of Massachusetts and of Connecticut, was a native of Essex, in England, and arrived at Boston 
it company with Mr. Hooker in 1033. He was Boon chosen an assistant, and in 1635, Governor. The next year he was 
succeeded by Mr. Vane. In 1030 he removed to Connecticut, of which colony he was one of the principal founders. He 
was elected it« first Governor in April, 1639, and was replaced in this office every second year, which was as often as the 
constitution would permit, till his death in 1664. Allen. — En. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VII. 569 

w.st inma com. Mightinesses' despatch of the 9 th of the same month, and consequently 
i:.'.ui..i.lrv'.' ' information respecting the situation and constitution of affairs in New Netherland. 
Which being considered, it is resolved and concluded that copies of the aforesaid despatch and 
inclosures shall be transmitted to Mr. Nieupoort, their High Mightinesses' Extraordinary 
Ambassador in England, with a request that he will so manage the matter that the New 
Netherland Boundary in question may be adopted agreeably and in conformity to the 
Provisional agreement concluded at Hartford in the year 16-50, and in case this abovementioned 
plan could not be accomplished, that it may then be agreed that the aforesaid Boundary be 
arranged in New Netherland, subject to the approval of the principals on both sides. Mess" 
the Deputies from Friesland renew their former frequently made remark respecting the 
employment of the Ambassadors. 



States General to Ambassador Nieupoort. 

From Ihe Register ol VUgegane Brieven of the States General, in the Royal Archives at the Ilague. ] 

To Mr. Nieupoort their High Mightinesses Extraordinary Ambassador in England. 

The States, etc. 

Foiio l. Honorable, etc. Herewith we transmit you copy of the letter of the Directors 

of the West India Company, Chamber at Amsterdam, as well as of the inclosures sent us 

Boundary of New therewith, together with the accompanying extract of our resolutions, all relating 

to the Boundary in New Netherland, requesting you to regulate yourself 

according to the tenor thereof. Relying on which, etc. Done 2 January, 1655. 



Chamber at MiJJelburg to the States General. 

[ From the Original in the Royal Archives at the Hague ; File, West Indie. ] 

High and Mighty Lords. 

In answer to your High Mightinesses' despatch and resolution, both of the 9 th of this month 
of December, and the inclosures respecting the negotiations between your High Mightinesses' 
Ambassadors in England and those of that Republic in relation to the Boundary in New 
Netherland, we who at present preside, can only repeat with due submission, what we have 
heretofore frequently stated, that we are wholly and entirely excluded from the superintendence 
of that so notable and important a province, included within our Charter; because we are so 
poor that we cannot contribute our quota of the incurred expenses. And, therefore, the 
supervision thereof hath always been unjustly assumed and retained by the Amsterdam 
Chamber, in spite of us and the other Chambers. So that we must acknowledge, according to 
existing circumstances, that we are unable to advise your High Mightinesses and oiler you such 
opinion as we should wish ; inasmuch as all the old papers and documents in support both of 
Vol. I. 72 



570 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

our first occupation of those countries and the successive purchases of grounds, and further 
particular contracts there entered into and performed, remain in the office of those of 
Amsterdam, to whom we must refer. But surely as Presiding Chamber, at least as yet, we can 
respectfully submit so much as our opinion to your High Mightinesses, that we have come to 
the conclusion that in justice every reasonable means and argument ought to be used, but in 
case nothing is obtained, we think it wisest, then, to try what is next considered reasonable. 
And so consequently not for what we desire and will, but for what can be effected. Wherefore, 
with submission, we consider their Excellencies' last plan the best; namely, to refer these 
conflicting matters to the respective representative chiefs and commissioners at the place in 
dispute, to the end that they may meet together and arrange everything there, subject to the 
approval of their Lords principals on both sides. The country and consequently the Company 
would derive the greatest advantage from such a course. We shall not hesitate to submit these 
and other additional reasons concerning our confraters of the Chamber at Amsterdam and to 
be careful thus respectfully to serve your High Mightinesses with uniform opinions; 
and shall further continually pray God to bless your High Mightinesses' government and 
undertakings. 

High and Migty Lords, 

Your High Mightinesses' humble Servants, 
The Directors of the Incorporated West India Company, Chamber in Zealand, 

Middelburgh, 2S December, A 1654. (Signed) P. Mortamer. 

Received 4 January, 1655. D. Bant. 



He-solution of the States General on the preceding Letter. 

I From the Register of West India Affairs, 1652 — 1063, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Monday, 4 ,h January, 1655. 
roiio U3. Received a letter from the Directors of the West India Company, Chamber of 
Zealand, written at Middelburgh the 2S th December last, in answer to their High Mightinesses' 
despatch of the 9 lh of this month, and accordingly with opinion respecting the Boundary in 
New Netheriand. New Netherland between the subjects of England and this State. Which being 
considered, reference is had to what has been already resolved in the premises and, with that, 
the matter was laid on the table. 



-Resolution of the States General in the suit of Mr. van der Capelle. 

[ From the Register of West India Affairs, 1652 — 1063, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Thursday, 14 January, 1655. 
roiio uo. Read at the Meeting, the petition of Martin Beekman, Notary, attorney for Mr. 

Hendrik van der Capelle tho Ryssel, co-deputy from the province of Guilderland to their High 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VII. 571 

Mightinesses' Assembly, praying that notice may be taken of the service made by him the 
Notary, of a certain Writ of Appeal, heretofore granted by their High Mightinesses to the said 
M.vandcrCapeiie. Mr. van der Capelle and Gerrit van de Voorde, merchant at Amsterdam cum 
Director stuyresant. sociis, respecting a certain judgment pronounced by Petrus Stuyvesant, Director 
in New Netherland and the other Councillors there against the appellant cum suis, in the 
matter of the ship named the Nieu Ncderlandsche Fortuyn, sent thither with people and 
agricultural implements; all to the effect that party should not set up any appearance, 
but on the contrary default be granted. Which being considered, it is resolved and concluded, 
that the petition aforesaid be referred to Messrs. van Ommeren and other their High 
Mightinesses' Deputies for the affairs of the West India Company, to inspect, examine and 
report thereupon. 



Resolution of the States General in the suit of Mr. van der Capelle. 

[ From the Register of West India Affairs, 1652 — 1663, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Saturday, 3 d April, 1655. 
Foiio 159. Read at the Assembly, a certain memoir of Mr. van der Capelle tho Ryssel, 

capeiie tho Ryssei. purporting in substance, that he with those interested, had, on the 10 th April, 
1653, obtained from their High Mightinesses on just complaint, a Writ of Appeal against 
Petrus Stuyvesant, Director-General in New Netherland, and that the said writ was served 
stuyvesant. on the aforesaid Stuyvesant and those whom it concerned, the prosecution 

whereof at law was stayed on negotiation and in hope of a friendly settlement; whereof he 
Mr. van der Capelle thought necessary to acquaint their High Mightinesses' Assembly, that 
they may act accordingly and to the end that this matter may not be hereafter deemed to be 
prescribed. Which being considered, their High Mightinesses accepted the foregoing as a 
notification, to serve according to law. 



Resolution of the States General in favor of Mr. Gdbry. 

[ From the Register of West India Affairs, 1662 — 1663, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Saturday, the 24 th April, 1655. 
Foiio 162. On the petition of Carel Gabry, merchant and resident at Amsterdam, it is on 

carei Gabry. consideration resolved and concluded to hereby allow and grant the Petitioner 

letters to Director-General Stuvesandt in New Netherland, for the promotion of the 
business he hath outstanding there. 



572 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

States General to Director Stayvemnt. 

[ From t!><-' Ilegi.'lor "f ' iturpnnt Briettn of the States Oeneral, iu the Rojal Archives at tho Hague. ] 

The States, etc. 
Folio 90. Honorable, etc. Carel Gabry, merchant and resident at Amsterdam, hath 

i ireiG.brr. represented to us that he proposes to visit New Netherland, in order to obtain 

payment from several of his debtors there; we have, therefore, resolved hereby to recommend 
and order you to afford him a helping hand, to the end that he may meet with good, quick, 
prompt redress, and full justice iu the matters he has outstanding there. Whereon relying, 
&c. Done 24 ,h April, 1655. 



► ..-«. ..A 



Tariff of 1G55. 

[From tho liuadle entitled Vencheide Stukken rafomdede Colonit van Nieuw Nederlandt, in the Stad JJuys, Amsterdam, No. 81. ] 

Holland Documents The Import duties according to following list corrected on the first of May, 1655, 

XVI.,47. _ .. . 

are as follow, to wit : 

Peltry. Beavers, Otters, Bears skins, etc. One stiver on the value of six guilders 

and one-third advance ; together per pound Flemish, fl 1. 5& 

Elk hides. Four stivers each and one-third advance ; in all per piece, 2.10| 

Tobacco. Six stivers on the value of six guilders and one-third 'advance; together 

per pound Flemish, S. 

Ox hides and Dry hides. Three stivers each and one-third advance ; together, each, 4. 

Wheal. Two guilders the last and one-third advance; together per last, 2.13. 5 J 

Barley. One guilder and five stivers per last and one-third advance ; together 

per last, 1.13. 6ft 

Peas and Beam. One guilder and five stivers the last, and one-third advance ; 

together per last, 1.13. 6J 

Lintseed. Two guilders and eight stivers the last and one-third advance ; together 

per last, 3 . 4 . 

J tape seed and Hemp seed. One guilder per last, and one-third advance; together 

per last, '■ 1. 6.10§ 

Flax. Four stivers per hundred pounds and one-third advance; together per 

100 lbs...... - 5. 5 J 

Jimp. Nine stivers per 300 lbs. weight and one-third advance; together per 

300 lbs., 12. 

Potash. Six stivers per hundred pounds and one-third advance ; together per 

100 lb., 8 . 

Timber from Sweden and Norway. Fight stivers per last and one-third advance; 

together per last, IO.IOj 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS : VII. 573 

Waimcotting. Three guilders per hundred and one-third advance; together 
per hundred, rl 4. 

Pipe staves. Two stivers per one hundred and twenty-two pieces and one-third 

advance ; together per 122 pieces, 2.10g 

Oak flank of 30 (|u 40 feet. Two stivers per 25 feet and one-third advance ; 
together eacli twenty feet, 2.10§ 

Fire wood. Three stivers for six guilders value and one-third advance ; together 

per pound Flemish, 4. 

Pitch; single bound. One guilder five stivers per last of 12 small tons and one- 
third advance ; together per last, 1.13. 5£ 

Filch; double bound. Two guilders ten stivers per last and one-third advance; 

together per last, 3. 6.10| 

Tar. One guilder per last and one-third advance ; together per last, 1. 6.10| 

Oil from round and flat seed. One guilder and five stivers per tierce (aem) and one- 
third advance ; together per tierce, 1.13. 5$ 

Pork. Nine stivers per three hundred pounds and one-third advance ; together 

per 300 lbs., 12 . 

Barrel beef. Four stivers for the value of six guilders and one-third advance ; 

together per pound Flemish, 5. 5$ 



Chamber at Amsterdam to the States General. 

[ From the Register of Ingekomm Briemn, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

High and Mighty Lords. 

Foiio 205. We have been for some months in daily expectation that Mr. Nieupoort, 

Mr.Nieupoort Ambassador from your High Mightinesses near the Lord Protector of England 
might have effected something in the matter of the Boundary in New Netherland between 
those of this State and England aforesaid, but we have not as yet learned anything thereof. 
And as the aforesaid matter demands dispatch and cannot be postponed without great 
prejudice and injury to the Company, we have therefore resolved humbly to request your 
High Mightinesses hereby, to be pleased, pursuant to the order hereinbefore made, and for 
reasons above set forth, again seriously to recommend the forwarding of the matter aforesaid 
to the abovementioned Ambassador, so that the aforesaid Boundary may be determined 
without any longer delay ; or in case what is above stated cannot be effected, then that the 
matter may be so ordered, that the Governors or Servants on both sides in those parts may 
be commissioned and authorized thereunto. Wherewith ending, we pray God Almighty that 
He would be pleased to bless your High Mightinesses' persons and government; and remain 

High and Mighty Lords, 

Your High Mightinesses' humble servants 
The Directors of the West India Company Chamber at Amsterdam, 
Amsterdam, 20 ,h May, ) (Signed) David van Baerle. 

Received 24 ,h May, J 1G55 ' Jacob Pergens, W 



574 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Resolution of the States General on the preceding Letter. 

[From the Register of Weal India Affairs, 1052 — 1668, in the Royal Archives at the Hague] 

Monday, 24 ,h May, 1655. 
Foiio 165. Received a letter from the Directors of the West India Company, Chamber at 

Amsterdam, dated the 20 th instant, stating in substance that they have been for some months 
, „ in daily expectation that Mr. Nieupoort, their High Mightinesses' Extraordinary 

Bnununry of New 'J * * 

mtueriami. Ambassador to the Protector in England might have effected something there 

in the matter of the Boundary iu New Netherlaud between those of this State and 
England, but that they had not yet heard anything concerning it. Which being considered, 
and it being observed that the aforesaid matter demands dispatch and cannot be delayed 
without great prejudice and injury to the aforesaid West India Company, it is resolved and 
concluded, that the said Ambassador Nieupoort shall be again written to, that he still duly 
perform all good and effectual duties and offices, pursuant to their High Mightinesses' previous 
orders, to the end that the aforesaid Boundary may be determined there without further delay, 
or in case the abovementioned should not be effected, that then the matter may be so directed 
that the Governors or Servants in New Netherland aforesaid may be commissioned and 
authorized thereunto ou both sides. 



States General to Ambassador Nieupoort. 

[ From the Register of Uitgegane JBrieven of the States General, in tho Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

The States, etc. 
Foiio no. Honorable, etc. We herewith send you both the accompanying extracts of our 

Nethe d r!and? f * ' Resolutions, as well respecting the Boundary between those of England and those 
of this State, in New Netherland, as regarding the superscription or placing the name of the 
Lord Protector upon the letters which His Highness should write to us; together with some 
accompanying authentic copies of a few letters written to us at the time by the King of 
England; requesting you to regulate yourself precisely in strict accordance with the tenor 
of both the aforesaid our resolutions. Whereupon relying, etc. Done 24 lh May, 1655. 



Chamber at Amsterdam to the States General. 

[ From tho Original, in tho Royal Archives at the Hague ; File, Wat Indi*. ] 

High and Mighty Lords! 

Whereas, we have learned since writing our last to your High Mightinesses, on the 20 lb 
instant, for the dispatch of the Boundary in New Netherland, that some Commissioners are 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VII. 575 

expected immediately here from England, from the Lord Protector there, for the consideration 
and completion of all remaining and unfinished business between this State and his Highness, 
we, therefore, could not omit by this opportunity most humbly requesting your High 
Mightinesses to be pleased to write to Ambassador Nieupoort, at present there, and to instruct 
him, to make known there the said Boundary of New Netherland along with the other points 
which remain open, and to have the Lord Protector's Commissioners, who are coining here, 
authorized there fully to dispose of and to terminate the said Boundary here, which we 
ardently desire. Herewith, 

High and Mighty Lords, we shall pray Almighty God, for the enduring welfare of your 
High Mightinesses' prosperous Government, and remain 

Your High Mightinesses' humble servants, 
The Directors of the West India Company, Chamber at Amsterdam. 

Amsterdam, 29 May, | (Signed) Eduard Man. 

Received 31 May, j °' Jacob Pergens. 



Resolution of the States General on the preceding Letter. 

[ From the Register of West India Affairs, 1652 — 1663, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Monday, the 31 May, 1655. 

Folio 166. Received a letter from the Directors of the West India Company, Chamber at 

Amsterdam, dated the 29 th instant, stating in substance that they had learned since writing 
their last of the 20 lh of this month to their High Mightinesses for the dispatch of the 
New Nethenand Boundary in New Netherland, that some Commissioners from England are 
expected immediately here from the Lord Protector for the consideration and 
completion of all remaining and unfinished business; requesting, therefore, that Mr. Nieupoort, 
their High Mightinesses' Extraordinary Ambassador in England aforesaid may be written to, 
that he may endeavor so to direct matters there that the Lord Protector's Commissioners 
who are about to come here may be authorized fully to dispose of and to bring to a close 
here the aforesaid Boundary and the other unfinished points. Which being considered, it is 
resolved and concluded, that Mr. Nieupoort be written to for the end aforesaid. 



States General to Ambassador Nieupoort. 

[ From the Eegister of Ultgegane Brwvm of the States General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

The States, etc. 
roiio ii6. Honorable, etc. We send you herewith the accompanying extract of our 

west India compa- Resolutions adopted on the letter from the Directors of the West India Company, 

ny. r 

Boundary of New Chamber at Amsterdam, dated the 29 th instant, with request that you regulate 

Netherland. ' 

yourself accordingly. Wherewith ending, etc. Done 31 May, 1655. 



570 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Resolution of the States General on a Letter from the Spanish Ambassador. 

[ From ttio Rogistcr of Weal India Affairs, 1(152 — 1668, in ihe Royal Archives al the Hague. ] 

Saturday, 10 ,b July, 1655. 
Foiioiri. Read at the Assembly, a certain Memorial from the Spanish Ambassador, 

span*!. AmbaMa- requesting that tlie Magistrate of tlie city of Amsterdam be written to, to npprehend 
asbufianBae£ and seize the goods of Sebastian Raef, a Captain or privateer committing piracies 
in the West Indies on the subjects of the Most Illustrious King, and who is at present 
sojourning at Amsterdam, aforesaid; also, that the Government of New Netherland be 
instructed to arrest in their harbors Joan van Kampen, his lieutenant, together with his ship 
and effects, that law and justice be administered to the one and the other, for the behoof of 
tlie interested, with infliction of exemplary punishment for the piracies they have committed. 
Which being considered, it is hereby resolved and concluded to request the Lords of Holland 
to recommend to the said Magistrate to administer good, brief and prompt justice in the 
premises aforesaid ; also, to afford the interested full justice. 



Resolution of the States General on a Letter from the Chamber at Amsterdam. 

[ From the Register of West India Affairs, 1G52 — !Cli3, In the Eoyal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Wednesday, the 2S ,h July, 1655. 
Folio its. Received a letter from the Directors of the West India Company, Chamber at 

Amsterdam, dated the 26 th instant, together with some inclosures, relating to the 

Boundary of New a ° 

Netherland. Boundary in New Netherland, between the English and this State. Which being 

considered, it is resolved and concluded, that the aforesaid letter and inclosures be placed in 
the hands of Messrs. van der Capelle to Ryssel, and the other their High Mightinesses' Deputies, 
for the affairs of the abovenamed West India Company, to inspect, examine and report thereon. 



Don Estevan de Gamarra y Contreras to the States General. 

[ From the Original, in the Royal Archives at the Hague ; File, Spanjc ] 
[TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH.] 

The undersigned Ambassador of Spain, represents to Messrs. the States General, that 
notwithstanding their Lordships were pleased, on the request he had made in his Memorial of 
the \(y h of July last, to order the Magistrate of the city of Amsterdam, to apprehend the 
person and effects of Captain Sebastian de RaeflT, who, on his own confession, (exhibited 
at the same time to their Lordships in an authenticated form,) acknowledged having 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VII. 577 

committed piracies in the West Indies on the subjects of the King, his master, and that his 
Lieutenant Jan van Campen continued the same robberies with his ship, and by his orders ; 
having among other tilings captured near the Island of Jamaica, after a bloody engagement, a 
Spanish ship which he carried into and sold with all its cargo at, New Netherland, according 
to the allegations of divers authentic affidavits; and Juan Gallardo Ferara, a native of St. 
Lucar de Barrameda, and pilot of said ship, was particularly interested in said prize, having 
lost, exclusive of many articles of considerable value, nine negroes, his own property, and 
thirty-six others, the property of Antonio de Rivera, who were under his care. Yet their 
Lordships' just resolution was of no avail, inasmuch as the said Pirate, having been released 
by the Magistrate of Amsterdam from the prison in which he had been confined for 4 or 5 
months on his own sworn security, contrary to all form of law, notwithstanding the objections 
of his Mijesty's Consul, resident at Amsterdam, without any punishment for the robberies 
and crimes he confessed he had committed, returned in the month of April to New Netherland, 
doubtless for the purpose of their continuing his piracies with his Lieutenant, or at least 
withdrawing himself from the chastisement he knew he merited ; so that the said Juan 
Gallardo has not been able to obtain any other satisfaction than an act, copy whereof is 
annexed, from Sieur Grand Escoutette of the said city, who promises to have justice done him, 
when the Pirate will return thither. But having been notified, apparently, by his wife or 
friends of this promise, he will take very good care not to return to these Provinces, where 
said Gallardo has been, in vain, waiting several months for him at considerable expense, their 
Lordships are most earnestly entreated and required to be pleased to dispatch requisitory 
letters in favor of said Juan Gallardo, addressed to the Governor or Magistrate of the said 
New Netherland, to arrest said Captain Sebastian de Raeff(alias Martin Bastiaenssen), with 
his Lieutenant Jan van Campen, on their arrival at the port of said country, where 'tis stated 
they ordinarily retire with their plunder; to seize their ships and effects for the satisfaction 
and indemnification of said Gallardo, and other his Majesty's subjects interested in their 
prizes, and afterwards to send both those Pirates prisoners to these Provinces for trial and 
exemplary punishment as disturbers of the public peace, with orders, in case the Pirates should 
not be found there, to cause to be restored without delay to said Juan Gallardo, (as law and 
justice dictate, leaving to the purchasers their recourse against those Pirates,) his nine Negroes, 
and all the others he will recognize there belonging to the said prize, especially the thirty-six 
the property of Antonio de Rivera, devolved to his Majesty in consequence of Rivera dying 
intestate, having been killed with several others in the attack on said Spanish ship; and to 
furnish said Gallardo with the means to enable him to transport himself with said Negroes 
to Havana, or some other neighboring port belonging to his said Majesty; a demand so 
equitable that the said Ambassador will not doubt but their Lordships will most willingly grant 
it, as a proof that they do not approve such piracies, and to prevent the impunity thereof being 
an encouragement to other new ones, to the serious prejudice of the security of commerce, 
and to the disturbance of the public tranquillity. 
Done at the Hague, the 11 th December, 1655. 

• ( Signed ) Gamarra.* 



Vol. I. 73 



578 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Resolution of the States General on the Spanish Ambassadors Letter. 

[ From the Register of West Iniiia Affairs, 1652— 1608, In tho Royal Archives at the Hague.] 

Saturday, the 11 th December, IG55. 
Folio i9T. Read at the meeting a certain Memoir from the Ambassador of Spain, 

complaining; of and against one Captain Sebastian Raeffand his Lieutenant Jan 

Spanish Ambas- r O O • 

»" u ' jr - van Campen, for committing piracies in the West Indies on the inhabitants and 

captain Raefr. subjects of the King of Spain, and especially for having robbed and plundered 
Jan Gallardo Ferrara, at sea, of some Negroes and other goods on his voyage to Spain from the 
Indies. Which being considered, it is resolved and concluded, that the aforesaid memorial be 
placed in the hands of Messrs. Huygens and others, their High Mightinesses' Deputies for 
conferring with the abovernentioned Ambassador, to inspect, examine and report thereupon. 



-♦». ♦ »■ »■ 



Ambassador Nteupoort to the States General. 

[ From tho Original in the Royal Archives at the ITaguo ; File, Enyeland. ] 

High and Mighty Lords. 

My Lords. 

I saw a letter a few days since which was written in Plymouth the 22 d instant, stating that 
three Dutch ships, coming on private account from New Netherland, were obliged by stress of 
weather to run into that port, and that in them arrived Mr. John Risen with several Swedish 
soldiers, who report that three forts and whatever they possessed thereabouts had been seized 
by the Dutch in those parts ; that the Savages or Indians had, at the same time, made a descent 
on the Dutch Colonies, but were repulsed, and that they killed only about 30 Dutchmen and 
burnt some few mean farm-houses. The aforesaid Risen had given out that it is his intention 
to apply to the Swedish Ambassador here, but has not yet made his appearance. Those 
three ships which are homeward bound, will be able to give the most correct information of what 
has occurred. Letters have also been received from the city announcing the arrival of a frigate 
called the Namptwich, which, with a man-of-war named the Assurance, had, after conveying some 
merchantmen as far as the Latitude of the river of Lisbon, captured three French ships-of-war 
coming from the bay of Cascais. The Namptwich frigate being the best sailer, engaged the 
flagship of 30 guns, commanded by Collaert, who, previous to this, had been in the service of 
the King of Spain, at Dunkirk; and the Assurance, not being as good a sailer as the other two 
French ships, and knowing that the other frigate would have a difficult task, came to its 
assistance, whereupon Collaert being unwilling to surrender, the English sunk the ship, but he 
and 6 or 7 men were saved and brought to Plymouth. The ship the Assurance having lost her 
bowsprit and foremast, went into Lisbon for repairs. The above engagement took place before 
the publication of the Treaty, and consequently before the cessation of hostilities. A man-of- 
war of 10 guns, commanded by one Captain Turner, under a commission from the Duke of 
York, was brought into the same harbor by one of the frigates belonging to this State. With 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VIII. 579 

these exceptions we have not received any news here from sea since my last despatch. The 
Theologians who were appointed to give their opinion on the proposals submitted by Manasseh 
Ben Israel regarding the Jews, and had not yet spoken at the previous conference, pronounced 
their opinion on Tuesday last, and, as I am informed, were, for the most part, in favor of the 
Jews being admitted as Merchants, but considered the public toleration of their Synagogue 
to be of grave consequence. I cannot learn that anything is as yet decided, as the Lord 
Protector, having heard the opinion of others, does not yet think proper to let his own 
be known. 

In a church of which Mr. John Simpson was formerly the Pastor, one Cornet Day did, a 
short time since, in the presence of a number of people who were assembled to hear the 
sermon, ascend the pulpit, and read to the Congregation a very abominable pasquinade against 
the Government, which he attacked with the bitterest expressions that can be thought of; the 
abovenamed Simpson afterwards climbed into the pulpit and read a text, and directed 
the whole of his sermon according to the contents of the pasquinade already read by the former ; 
he was thereupon arrested, but the other is not to be found ; he and Mr. Feach were formerly 
detained a long time prisoners in Windsor Castle; he was liberated on his promising to 
remain quiet. 

The fleet was got in readiness here with the greatest dispatch, and many are of opinion that 
General Blake 1 might easily put to sea with the largest of the ships in a few weeks. 

Wherewith concluding, 1 shall at the end of the year wish from the bottom of my heart 
your High Mightinesses' laudable government, in the beginning of the New Year, all prosperity, 
and ever be and remain, 

High and Mighty Lords, 

Westminster, Your High Mightinesses' 

the last day of the year 1655. most humble Servant, 

Received G lb January, 1656. (Signed) Will"' Nieupoort. 



Resolution of the States General on the •preceding Letter. 

[ From the Register of WeBt India Affairs, 1C52 — 1603, in Hie Koyal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Thursday, 6 lh January, 1656. 

Folio 198 Received a despatch from Mr. Nieupoort, their High Mightinesses' Extraordinary 

Nieupoort. Ambassador in England, written at Westminster the 31 December last, together 

with two letters from him of the same date to Secretary Ruysch, along with an inclosure 
Swedes expelled advising among other things that some Swedish Soldiers had arrived in England 

from New Nether- . . 

land. • from New Netherland, who were expelled thence by those of this nation. Which 

being considered, it is resolved and concluded that the Presiding Chamber of the West India 
Company shall be written to, to transmit information without delay, on this point to their 
High Mightinesses. 

' Admiral Robert Blake. lie died in 1657, on his return from defeating the Spanish galleons, on their way from Peru, and 
was buried with great pomp in King Henry the Seventh's Chapel. See Clarendon, VI., 2843. — Ed. 



580 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

States General to the Chamber at Amsterdam. 

[ From the Register of fltgegatu Brieven of tho Slates General, in the Royal Archives nt tho Hague.] 

To the Presiding Chamber of the West India Company residing at Amsterdam. 

The States, etc. 

Follo 4 Honorable, etc. We transmit you herewith the accompanying extract of 

Bwodiih soldiers Ambassador Nieupoort's despatch, dated 31" December last, concerning the 
New Neiherian.i. Swedish soldiers who have come over from New Netherland, requesting and 
requiring you, without delay to convey to us your information thereupon. Wherewith 
ending, etc. Done, 6 th January, 1G56. 



Don Estevan de Gamarra y Contreras to the States General. 

[ From tho Original in the Royal Archives at the Tlague ; File, Spanjt. ] 
[TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH.] 

The undersigned, Ambassador of Spain, not having yet received any answer from Messrs. 

the States General to a Memoir he presented on the ll' b December last, requesting your 

Lordships to be pleased to dispatch requisitory letters in favor of Juan Gallardo, a Spanish 

Pilot, addressed to the Governor or Magistrate of New Netherland to arrest Captain Sebastiaen 

de Raeff and his Lieutenant, Jan van Campen, when they will arrive at the ports of said 

country, where they usually repair with their prizes, and to seize their ships and effects for the 

indemnification of the said Juan Gallardo and the other his Majesty's subjects interested in 

their robberies, with orders to send them prisoners to these Provinces for trial and exemplary 

punishment ; and in case the said two pirates be not found, that he cause free restitution to 

be made to said Gallardo, of his nine Negroes and of all the others he will recognize belonging 

to the same prize, principally the thirty-six of Antonio de Rivera, devolved to his Majesty by 

the decease of said Rivera intestate, leaving to the purchasers their recourse against the 

pirates ; he finds himself under the necessity of renewing his urgent entreaties to your 

Lordships to be pleased to accede to that request, which is founded on all justice and equity, 

the more especially as the Magistrate of Amsterdam, having set the said Captain de Raeff at 

liberty on simple security under oath, contrary to all form of justice, has deprived said 

< iallardo and the other interested parties of the means of prosecuting their right against him 

and of thereby obtaining satisfaction, in consequence of his fleeing these Provinces, and as 

this poor man having exhausted his means in expenses, has not wherewithal to subsist 

much longer. 

Done at the Hague, the 6 lh January, 1G56. 

(Signed) Gamarra. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VIII. 581 

Resolutions of the States General on the Spanish Ambassador 's Letter. 

[ From the Register of West India Affairs, 1652 — 1C63, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Thursday, the G lb January, 1656. 
Folio las. Read at the Assembly, a certain additional Memoir of the Spanish Ambassador, 

Spanish Ambasaa- touching the case of Johan Gaillardo, a Spanish pilot, against Captain Sebastian 
johan Gaiiiardo. Raeph and his Lieutenant Jan van Campen, who took from said Gaillardo his 
ship and some Negroes and repaired to New Netherland ; from which (charge) the aforesaid 
Raeph was set at liberty, at Amsterdam, under sworn bail. Which being considered, it is 
resolved and concluded, hereby to request Messrs. the Deputies from Holland, to take 
information at their convenience, upon the matter aforesaid, and acquaint their High 
Mightinesses thereof. 

[ From the Register of Resolutions of the States General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Monday, the 10 ,h January, 1656. 

Folio n. The additional Memorial of the Ambassador of Spain, presented to their High 

Gaill con'tra, Mightinesses, on the 6 th instant, respecting the case of Johan Gaillardo, a Spanish 

Haeff ' pilot, against Captain Sebastiaen RaefF and his Lieutenant Jan van Campen, 

who took from the abovenamed Gaillardo his ship and some Negroes, and proceeded to New 

Netherland, whereof the abovementioued Raeffis discharged at Amsterdam, on sworn bail, is 

again brought before the Assembly; and the same being considered, it is resolved and 

concluded hereby to request and commission Mr. Vogelsangh to inform the Ambassador that 

the said Captain was duly and legally discharged at Amsterdam ; copy of the aforesaid 

Memoir and of that presented to their High Mightinesses on the same subject on the ll ,b 

December, shall be transmitted to Director-General Stuyvesant with orders, in case he find, 

on due inquiry, the matter to be as narrated in the aforesaid Memorial, to send the abovenamed 

Jan van Campen hither, pede ligato, and, moreover, to allow those interested in the reclaimed 

slaves, to obtain good, brief, prompt and full justice. 



States General to Director Stuyvesant. 

[ From the Register of Uitgegane Brieven of the States General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

To Director-General Stuyvesant, in New Netherland. 

The States, etc. 

Foiio s. Honorable, etc. We herewith send you the accompanying copies of the 

Memorials presented to us by the Spanish Ambassador on the ll lh December last, and on the 

johan Gaiiiardo, 6 lh of this month, respecting the case of Johan Gaillardo, a Spanish pilot, against 

pams pno Captain Sebastiaen RaefF and his Lieutenant Jan van Campen, and we transmit 

you, besides, the annexed extract of our resolutions adopted on the aforesaid Memorials, with 



:,SJ NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

order and command, that you regulate yourself precisely according to the tenor thereof, 
without in any wise failing therein. Relying whereupon, etc. Done 10 January, 1G56. 



Ambassador Nieupoort to the Slates Genera!. 

[From the Original in the Royal Archives at tho Iln^ue; File, £nylan<L \ 

High and Mighty Lords. 

My Lords. 

A certain merchant here in London, attending to the business of the West India Company, 
communicated to me, a few days ago, a letter from Mr. Stuyvesandt, Director-General of New 
Netherland, handed to him by Mr. Johan Rising, late Governor for the Crown of Sweden, on 
the South River of New Netherland aforesaid, wherein the abovenamed Stuyvesandt writes 
that he had, on the express order and instructions of the Directors of the Incorporated West 
India Company, lately reduced the said South River, under that Company's obedience; with 
a formal Capitulation, whereby it was stipulated, that the skipper with whom the abovenamed 
Johan Rising and the factor Henrick Elswyck, should sail, was instructed to land them in 
France or in England, and that Director-General Stuyvesandt was to loan or furnish the former 
exchange for the sum of three hundred pounds Flemish, for the prosecution of his voyage, 
&c, which the abovenamed Rising coming here to London from Plymouth, at once demanded 
from the said merchant. 

No news has been received here from sea since my last, from any quarter, nor from Scotland 
or Ireland, and nothing worth mentioning has occurred siuce Christmas day. Vice-Admiral 
de Ruyter 1 is highly praised for having befriended the ships of this nation, and so valiantly 
attacked the enemies of all Christendom. The Lord Protector with the Council held a special 
day of Fasting and Thanksgiving on the day before yesterday, and I am assured that about forty 
first class ships will be ready for sea within a month, among which will be the large frigate 
the Nascby and the ship Resolution, each carrying over eighty guns and five hundred men. I 
am informed that General Blake will go in the first, and Vice-Admiral Lawson in the second ; 
Major Bourne is to be employed as Rear-Admiral of the aforesaid fleet. I am, moreover, 

1 Micuael Adriaensz, Duke de Ruyter, Lieutenant-Admiral-General of the United Provinces, was born at Flushing, in 1607. 
He entered the navy at the early age of 11, and from being a common sailor rose to the head of his profession. Whilst only 
captain he defended Dublin against the Irish ; made several voyages to the West Indies and Brazil, and being Gear- Admiral, was 
Bent in 1041, to aid Portugal against Spain, where he acquitted himself with much distinction. He next defeated the Barbary 
pirates at Salee, and in 1653, commanded under Van Tromp, the Dutch fleet, with which he three times engaged the English. 
In 1656, he proceeded to the Mediterranean, where he captured and hung the famous renegade, Amand de Dias. In 1659, 
he served against Sweden in the war between that power and Denmark, and so highly did the latter State appreciate 
De Guyter's services, that it conferred a pension on him, and ennobled himself and all his family. In 1661, he captured a Tunis 
vessel, and liberated eighty Christian Slaves whom he found on board; so high did he 6tand in 1665, that he was elected 
Lieutenant-Admiral, and in 1660, after having gained a great victory over the English, was promoted to be Lieutenant-Adnnral- 
General, the highest rank he could reach, the Governor of Holland having been ex-officio Admrial of the Dutch Navy. He 
continued to distinguish himself by many brilliant actions until 1676, when he was mortally wounded in an engagement wilh 
the French off Sicily. His remains were conveyed to Amsterdam, where the States caused a superb monument to be erected 
to his memory. Moreri. — Ed. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VIII. 533 

informed by reliable authority, that full fourteen or fifteen good ships are gone quietly from 
time to time, some before some afterwards, to the West Indies with all sorts of stores, so that 
they hope to have their fleet in those parts sufficiently reinforced to make head against any 
hostile demonstration. I am told that a hundred and twenty cavalry, selected from all the 
regiments of horse, entered the city on the day before yesterday, who are to serve under a 
cornet, as a mounted guard to the Lord Protector; they are all disciplined men, who have 
served at least seven years, and each of them, as I'm informed, is allowed a servant and four 
shillings sterling a day. The Lieutenant of the former body guard, consisting of forty persons, 
mostly gentlemen, is appointed Captain of the corps. The Majors General in the respective 
Provinces, continue according to their instructions, to provide against new disturbances, 
whereby many have been brought into great difficulties. Nothing further has been done 
respecting the proposals of the Jews. 

Wherewith ending, I wish your High Mightinesses all happiness and prosperity, and shall 
always be and remain, 

High and Mighty Lords, 

Your High Mightinesses' Most humble servant, 
Westminster, 7 ) 
Received 13 j Janua T' 1656 - (Signed) Wil- Nieupoort. 



Chamber at Amsterdam to the States General. 

[ From the Original in the Royal Archives at the Hague ; File, Went Indie. ] 

High and Mighty Lords. 

We yesterday received your High Mightinesses' letter of 6 ,h instant with the accompanying 
extract of Ambassador Nieupoort's despatch dated the 31 December last. In answer thereunto 
we state, that in the month of May, 1654, one John Ryssen who represented himself 
as being commissioned by the Crown of Sweden, arrived, with a certain ship and some people, 
in the New Netherland province of the Incorporated West India Company of this country; 
and there, contrary to the law of nations, made himself master of the aforesaid Company's 
fortress named Casimier, ' situate on the South River, and thus dispossessed us of a place which 
we had occupied for many years in peace and quietness. Being advised thereof by the 
Director-General, we chartered the ship the JVacg last year from the Worshipful Burgomasters 
of this city, and sent off some soldiers in her to recover the aforesaid fort from the said Jan 
Rysen, and to bring it under the Company's obedience. This being accomplished, he 
resolved to repair hither with some people, and embarked on board one of the three ships, 
which having sailed from New Netherland, first ran into Plymouth in England by contrary 
winds, and now have arrived in the Texel. The papers and documents were handed us, for 
the first time, to-day, so that we have not yet had any opportunity to examine them. 
Notwithstanding, we could not omit advising your High Mightinesses of what precedes in order 
that pursuant to your request, the earliest information may be furnished ; yet we otter to be 
prepared to submit to your High Mightinesses a full report of what has occurred, should you 
consider it necessary. Wherewith, 

' Now, New Castle, Del. — I 



584 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

High and Miglity Lords, we shall pray God Almighty for the continual welfare of your 
High Mightinesses' prosperous government, and remain 

Your High Mightinesses' humble Servants, 
The Directors of the West India Company, Chamber at Amsterdam. 
Amsterdam, this 13 ") r (Signed) J. Bontemantel. 

Received 15 f Abr. Wilmerdonx. 



Resolution of the States General on the preceding Letter. 

[From the Register of West India Affairs, 1052 — 1GG3, in the Royal Archives at the Hague.] 

Saturday, the 15"' January, 16-")(>. 
Foiioiao. Received a letter from the Directors of the West India Company, Chamber at 

., Amsterdam, dated the 13 th instant, in answer to their High Mightinesses' 

Swedes in New a O 

Netherlands despatch of the 6' b instant, and consequently information relative to the expulsion 

of some Swedish soldiers from New Netherland. Which being considered, the Provinces have 
requested copy of said letter, and the same is hereby granted them. 



Resolution of the States General calling for a Report on the Expulsion of the Swedes 

from the Smith River. 

[ From the Register of West India Affairs, 1C52 — 1C63, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Tuesday, the lS' h January, 1656. 

Foiio loo. Upon consideration, it is resolved that the Directors of the West India 

Company, Chamber at Amsterdam, shall be written to immediately to draw up 

Swedes in New I J ' J f 

Netherland. an( j transmit to their High Mightinesses, the report or relation respecting some 

Swedish soldiers arrived from New Netherland, more fully mentioned in their last letter of the 
• . . . instant. 



Slates General to the Chamber at Amsterdam. 

[ From the Register of Uitgegan* Brieven. of the 8lales General, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

To the Amsterdam Chamber of the West India Company. 

The States, etc. 

Foiio n. Honorable, etc. We have resolved hereby to request and require you to 

prepare immediately and to transmit to us»the Report or Relation respecting the expulsion of 
rcxpuMon or some SO me Swedish soldiers from New Netherland, more fully mentioned in your last 

Swedish soldiers J J 

from New Nether- j etter gent ^ us> K e lyi ng whereupon, etc. Done IS January, 1656. 



[SECRET CASE.] 



WEST INDIA COMPANY 



REP OUT 



AMSTERDAM CHAMBER OF THE WEST INDIA COMPANY, 



WITH THE 



TAPERS AND CORROBORATIVE DOCUMENTS THEREUNTO BELONGING, 



RESPECTING 



THE SWEDES 



WHO HAVE ARRIVED FROM NEW NETHERLAND. 



Received the 28th January, 1056. 



[Case L. A., Locket M., No. 9. ] 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VIII. 587 

Extract from the Register of the Secret Resolutions of the High and Mighty Lords 
States General of the United NttJierlands. 

Friday, 28 January, 1G5G. 

[Omitted; being duplicate of Resolution, post, p. 609.] 



Chamber at Amsterdam to the States General. 

[ From the Original In the Royal Archives at the Hague ; Secretekat of the States General ; Division, West Indisdxe Compagnie, Ho. 9. J 

Secret. 
High and Mighty Lords. 

In our provisional answer of the 13 th of this current month to your High Mightinesses 

despatch of the 6 lh instant concerning the Swedes who have arrived from New Netherland, we 

offered to furnish a further Report of what occurred there, which we have since had prepared 

with the proper verifications; and have resolved to transmit herewith to your High 

Mightinesses with an humble request, that on considering them, the circumstances of the case 

and the reasons thereunto appertaining, you will please not to take it ill of the Company, that 

it had so far regarded the honor of this State as to evince at last some resentment at the several 

affronts, injuries and damages perpetrated against us by the Swedes in the aforesaid district, 

and that we have provided, as far as it lay in our power, that the unheard of and hostile 

usurpations of that nation be afforded no new occasion to attempt, unhindered and at their 

pleasure, similar invasions of the Company's possessions, as daily experience hath sufficiently 

taught. We farther pray your High Mightinesses to allow yourselves to be persuaded to grant 

the Company the needful assistance, so that this noble Province which hath begun to prosper 

right well in trade and agriculture, and would, under other circumstances, be very useful, and 

serve even as a granary to this State, may not come to decay, and thus be only a burthen 

which otherwise would be a means of such notable profit. Wherewith praying God Almighty 

to be pleased to bless your High Mightinesses' persons and government, we remain 

High and Mighty Lords, 

Your High Mightinesses' Humble Servants, 

The Directors of the West India Company, Chamber at Amsterdam. 

Amsterdam, this 24 ) (Signed) J. Bontemantel 

n • j no M anu ary» 1656. -^ 

Received 2S j J David van Baerle. 



Secret. 

Deduction or Clear and precise Account of the Condition of the South river, 
situate in New Netherland, and of the unseemly proceedings of the Swedes 
there: presented to the High and Mighty Lords States General of the 
United Netherlands. Received 2S ,h January, 1G56. 

The Incorporated West India Company of this country took possession, in the year 10:2(5, 
among other places, of the South river situate in New Netherland, and there erected or 



588 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. ' 

caused to be built, two posts or fortresses; the one and the largest called Nassau, 16 leagues 
up the river on the east bank, being their southern frontier; and the other named Bevers 
reede, down the river on the west bank, about the lands of the Schuylkil ; a place wonderfully 
convenient and so called on account of the Beaver trade which was prosecuted there to a 
considerable amount with the natives and Indians. 

The Company also bought, or caused to be bought from the natives and owners, about 
the same time, many lands, in order thus to be able, as first discoverers and possessors, to 
settle this river more peaceably, quietly and with greater right. 

This South River was deemed the finest of all North America, being wide, deep and 
navigable ; also greatly abounding in fish, especially in plenty of sturgeon, from the roe of 
which caviar in vast quantity can be manufactured. 

The soil hereabouts, and on both sides of said river, is very fertile and the most part of it 
exceedingly well adapted for tillage and grain ; it also produces various descriptions of fruits. 

Thousands of Beavers can be bought here and around the Schuylkil, or Bevers reede, the 
Company's constructed Redoubt, which are brought down in great abundance by the Southern 
Indians (called Minquas) and by the Black Indians, so that this river has been always held in 
great esteem and repute by the Company and its Agents, on account of its fitness and great 
convenience both for Trade and Agriculture. 

This River had been for many years in the peaceable and quiet possession of the Company 
until, at length, a certain person named Pieter Minuyt, forgetful of the benefits conferred on 
him by the Company, whose Director he had been in New Netherland, cast his eye upon it. 
But not knowing under what pretence to go there, he proceeded to Sweden and having, as 
'twas asserted, obtained a Commission from that Crown, transported himself thence forthwith to 
the South River with one or two ships and some Swedes, the most of whom were banditti, where 
in the year 1G33. and consequently full twelve years after the Company had come there, he 
had a fort erected called Christina, about five (Sl six leagues below the Company's fort Nassau, 
notwithstanding as first discoverers and possessors of the aforesaid river, the latter had caused 
its Servants to protest repeatedly against them ; as appears by divers letters of their Director 
Willem Kieft, extracts whereof are hereunto annexed under N° 1. 

The land named the Schuylkil, where, as already mentioned, fort Bevers reede stands, was 
purchased from the right owners and principal Indians in the year 1633, by Arent Corssen, 
the Company's Servant, and conveyed to the Company, which conveyance the aforesaid Indian 
Chiefs did also, in the year 1648, renew and confirm, as can be seen by the Deed and 
conveyance annexed, N° 2. The Swedes, notwithstanding, have erected a fort on these 
grounds and streams so indisputably belonging to the Company, namely, on the point of the 
Shuylkil aforesaid, by them called Kievit's hook, and moreover built there also a trading house 
right in front of the gate of the Company's fortress Bevers reede, not a rod from the gate, 
whereby our people were wholly shut out from the sight of the road, so as the better to deprive 
the Company of the Beaver trade, whereunto they directed all their efforts, and so ruined the 
trade, that it has become unprofitable to the Company, to its serious damage and loss. And 
although the Company had, on account of these intolerable and insufferable proceedings, 
sufficient cause to drive the Swedes thence, which could then have been easily effected, yet 
neglecting so to do for peace sake and in order to obviate any trouble between both nations, 
it only protested, as before. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VIII. 5§g 

The Swedes, disregarding all our protests, have abused, scoffed and arrogantly treated this 
forbearance on the part of the Company's Servants; for, having erected a third fort, named 
Elsborgh, on the eastern bank of the river, they became so insolent, that they not only 
overhauled there the sloops and boats provided with the Company's commission, and obstructed 
them on their voyage, but even, under pretence of inspection, took therefrom the best [skins] 
to the serious damage of the people and the gross contempt of this State and of the Company, 
who, by virtue of first discovery, had so righteously possessed and owned this river ; and John 
Prints, the Swedish Governor, did not hesitate repeatedly to say, that the aforesaid little fort 
Elsborg was placed there for the purpose of shutting up the river. 

The Swedes, who were daily increasing in numbers and arrogance, have not only charged 
their people not to trade with the Company's settlers nor to pay them their debts, but also 
strictly forbade our settlers aforesaid to make any bouweries, plantations or gardens between 
their trading house and the Company's fort Bevers reede, though it was many years before the 
arrival of the Swedes there, the Company's own and indisputable land, purchased from the natives 
and right owners, and by Deed conveyed to the Company as aforesaid. Which, notwithstanding, 
their intolerable insolence became so excessive, that contrary to all public law, they by force 
broke down and wholly destroyed the houses, plantations and gardens already erected and 
made on the aforesaid Company's own lands, to the further contempt of this State and Company, 
and to the serious injury and damage of those who, as subjects, had repaired and settled there 
under their High Mightinesses' and the Company's protection ; as more fully appears by divers 
papers and documents received from New Netherland, and among the rest by a certain 
Remonstrance presented there by the said subjects to Petrus Stuyvesant, the Company's 
Director; copy whereof is annexed, N° 3. 

It is sufficiently apparent from all these unheard of and insufferable proceedings, that their 
intention was thus to dispossess and unseat the Company from the entire river. Wherefore, 
Director Stuyvesant was under the necessity of proceeding thither in person in the year 165L, 
for the preservation and protection of the Company's right and jurisdiction, and for the 
maintenance of its inhabitants; where being arrived, he, by letters and messengers made 
known and caused to be communicated to Johan Printz, the Swedish Governor, the right the 
Company had, by virtue of first discovery and taken possession, generally to the aforesaid 
river, confirmed and rendered indisputable by the purchase of divers lands, including the 
Schuylkil district, which purchase and conveyance was effected many years before the coming 
there of the Swedes, as is to be proved by deeds and conveyances; requesting him, therefore, 
to show in like manner by similar evidence, what lands there had been purchased by him or 
his, and were, consequently, conveyed to them by the natives and proprietors. 

The result was only a simple writing, wherein the aforesaid Governor designated the 
Swedish limits wide and broad enough; but without any justification or proper proof; having 
recourse to the subterfuge that the deeds of the purchase and conveyance of the acquired 
lands there, were not at hand, but in the Chancery at Stockholm, where, he said, he had 
indeed seen them. 

'Twas shortly after made manifest, that these subterfuges were destitute of truth, for said 
Governor then for the first time tried to buy from a certain Sachem or Indian chief, named 
Waspangzewan, such lands as he already occupied, _and insisted were included within his 
limits. Whereunto the said Indian chief not being willing, refused because, as he said, the 
Swedes had so long occupied the aforesaid, his lands, partly against his will and by force, 



590 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

without having ever given him the least satisfaction ; as said chief had himself, in presence of 
divers respectable persons declared both verbally and in writing to Director Stuyvesant ; to 
whom he then presented, and in due form conveyed for the Company, as a perpetual and 
hereditary possession, his lands aforesaid, with their kills and superficies, so unjustly 
and forcibly Occupied by the Swedes, situate both on the east and west shores, and on the 
east shore beginning from the Naricon creek, extending in a westerly direction down the river 
unto Maetsingsing, and on the west shore beginning from a certain creek called Neckatoesing, 
extending from the river westward unto Settoen soene, otherwise called the Minquaas kill, 
where the Swedish fort Christina stands. All which can he more fully and clearly seen in the 
aforesaid written declaration, and in the deed and conveyance of said lands; authentic copy 
whereof is annexed hereunto, IV" 4 

Notwithstanding all this, and for still further peace and security, the said Director Stuyvesant 
sent for all the other Indian chiefs yet dwelling about the aforesaid river, and who were owners 
of the lands situate thereabouts, and in presence of divers persons, according to their annexed 
written declaration No. 5, proposed to them some questions; among the rest, he divers times 
distinctly and in express terms, had the question put to them, Whether they had ever sold or 
given any lands there to the Swedes, as these alleged? All of whom thereupon unanimously 
and positively answered, No ; only the ground on which the Swedish fort Christina stood, and a 
certain garden to plant tobacco. Declaring further, that they gave the Company all the land, 
from the aforesaid fort Christina down to Boomijes hook, being some leagues, to do therewith 
as it pleased. Politely thanking them therefor, the said Director preferred making them 
satisfaction and a present in return, which they also have specially and as satisfaction accepted, 
as may he seen by the deeds thereof, executed in due form under the signature of their own 
hands; copy of which is hereunto annnexed, N° 0. 

This being thus done for the prevention of further trouble and for the removal of all possible 
pretexts the Swedes might set up, Director Stuyvesant found it necessary for the greater 
security of the Company's jurisdiction and the protection of its people, to build another fort on 
the said river, and to raze Fort Nassau, which lay too high up and at too inconvenient 
dist nice. And selecting for that purpose a tolerably suitable spot on the Company's own 
land, conveyed by deed as aforesaid, about a league from the Swedish fort Christina, and 
having completed the fort which he called Casimir, and provided it with a garrison and munitions 
of war, according to circumstances, the aforesaid Director before his departure, had divers 
verbal conferences with Johan Printz, the Swedish Governor, and they mutually promised 
not to commit any hostile or vexatious acts against one another, but to maintain together all 
neighborly friendship and correspondence, as good friends and allies are bound to do. 

Afterwards, this Swedish Governor being gone, and the affairs of the Swedes there going 
to decay, in consequence of not having received any assistance, those who were still 
remaining in those parts caused application to be made to Director Stuyvesant that the 
Company would protect and take them under its care and guardianship, offering for that 
purpose to behave as inhabitants and subjects of this State ; as is to be seen by the annexed 
extract of said Director's despatch, dated o ,h October, 1653, N° 7. And although many would 
have seized that opportunity thus to he rid of them and to be master of those who, by force 
and contrary to repeated protests, had settled there, and at whose hands they had, in addition, 
suffered so many affronts, injuries and losses, yet such was not done, but the said Director 
even did not want and was unwilling to accept this their oiler of removing under the 



a 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VIII, 59| 

Company's obedience, merely in order to prevent and obviate all difficulties and complaints 
which might he made and put forth in this country about the matter. 

This civility and peaceable proceeding done with so good and upright a meaning and intention, 
met with a very ill return; for afterwards in the month of May of the year 1G34, came a 
Swedish ship full of people into the aforesaid South River, with a new Governor who, contrary 
to all right and reason, forcibly made themselves masters of the Company's newly erected (bit 
Casimir, stripped the Company's people and soldiers, who were hut few in number, of their 
arins and thrust them forth, and obliged and forced the free men to take the oath of allegiance to 
the Swedish Governor, as they were not resolved to leave all their property there ; as further 
is to be seen by the copy of the collected affidavits thereof made, and by the annexed extracts 
of the letters of Director Stuyvesant and Gerrit Bicker, late commandant of said fort Casimir, 
N° 8. 

Making themselves, in this wise, wholly masters of that fine and navigable river, to which 
they never had any pretention nor right, inasmuch as the Company had, before the arrival 
of any Christian Nation there, taken and caused to be taken possession thereof full 12 years 
before the coming of the Swedes; which possession was further confirmed and rendered 
indisputable by prior and legal purchase of many and divers lands made over to them by- 
proper deeds and conveyances, as already sufficiently proved ; so that the Swedes cannot justily 
this atrocious and unheard of action by any just pretext or appearance in the world, as the 
new Swedish Governor also seems sufficiently to admit in his letter which he wrote on this 
subject to Director Stuyvesant; for he says, that this is a matter of greater importance than 
will be able to be adjusted by servants who as he observes — and this is to be remarked — 
must only obey orders; excusing this his improper proceedings by the commands which he 
had hereunto received from the Crown of Sweden ; as is to be seen by the annexed extract of 
said letter, N° 9. 

The Director-General of New Netherland (who was, at first, greatly pained by this affair, 
as he received nothing but threats in reply to his friendly demand for restitution,) found it 
expedient to resent this wrong last year, on receipt of the reinforcement sent hence. And 
thereupon departed with his supplementary force for the South river, and with God's help, 
reduced, without bloodshed, the aforesaid fort Casimir again under the obedience of this State 
and Company, on the ll ,h September, 1G55, according to the annexed Capitulation, N° 10. 

And as the Governor of Fort Christina, named John Rising, so unjustly filched the 
possession of the aforesaid fort in the year 1654, from this State and the Company, as already 
narrated, and as nothing was to be expected but that he would undertake a similar attempt 
after the departure of the aforesaid Director-General, the latter, therefore, summoned the 
aforesaid Fort Christina, and obtained possession thereof in like manner, without any 
bloodshed, on the 25 ,h of the same month, according to the capitulation hereunto annexed, 
N° 11. 

And though the aforesaid action, according to the law of nations and for divers reasons, 
could be maintained and defended, the Company, nevertheless, in order to show and to declare 
before all the world that it does not seek enmity with any one, nor ask aught belonging to 
another, but only endeavors to maintain and defend its own, allowed on the same day an offer 
in writing to be made, to restore the said surrendered Fort Christina to the said John Rising 
on honorable and reasonable conditions to be sworn to and solemnly fulfilled by him and his 
officers as Agents on the behalf of her Royal Majesty of Sweden on the one part, and the 



592 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Director-General and Council, as Agents of tliis State and the Company, on the other. But 
this offer was rejected by said John Rising, on pretence that the matter was not within his 
attribute, and he preferred to adhere to the Capitulation which had been concluded. 



Appendix 1. Received 2S January, 1656. Secret. 

Extracts of divers letters written by Willem Kieft, late Director in New 
Netherland, to the Managers of the Incorporated West India Company, 
Chamber at Amsterdam, viz': — 

Of a letter dated 2S lh April, 1638. 
The assistant of Fort Nassau writes that Minuyt was at the South river and had sent his 
sloop above the fort. He would, afterwards, again go up, which our people prevented. And 
Peter Mey sailed down aboard of him, demanding to see his commission which he refused to 
exhibit, saying he will build a fort there, and his Queen had as much right there as the 
Company. I have sent Jan Jansen, the Commissary of the fort thither, and instructed him, 
in case Minuyt should attempt anything to our prejudice to protest against him in due form. 
I hourly expect news from there, etc. 

Of a letter dated 31 July, 1638. 

Minuyt erected a fort on the South River five leagues from ours ; attracted all the peltries to 

himself by means of liberal gifts ; departed thence with his two attendant ships, leaving 2<i men 

^r-. in the fort provided with all sorts of goods and provisions ; had posts set up with 

C. R. S. these letters. Jan Jansen, the Commissary at Fort Nassau had protested 
by my orders, to which he gave an answer, copy whereof is annexed hereunto. We 
subsequently sent from this place thither a draught of a protest which was read to him, 
whereunto he would not answer. This proceeding is highly prejudicial to the Company, etc. 

Of copy of a certain letter,_without date. 
In regard to the South River, affairs remain in the same position as last year. Trade there 
is of small amount, because the Swede, by underselling, had depressed, and continues still to 
keep down the market; to behold this contentedly, to be thus hectored, deprived of the trade 
and robbed of our land, is a vast annoyance, & c . 

Of a letter dated 2 October, 1639. 

Fort Nassau in the South River is a heavy charge to the Company; both on account of the 
strong garrison and the sloop. We see no means of lessening it on account of the Swedes who 
have settled five leagues from there, within our jurisdiction, though they well know that the 
mouth of the river is sealed with our blood, and that possession has been taken of it, above 
and below. Since their arrival there, we have fallen short full 30,000 in the trade, and still 
daily suffer through their means. Should they move off, which they must soon do, if not 
reinforced, we will never consent to, if we are strong enough to prevent, the settlement of any 
one within our limits, which ought to have been the case in this instance. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VIII. 593 

Of a letter dated the last of May, 1610. 
The Swedes in the South River were resolved to move off and to come here. On the day 
before their departure, a ship arrived with a reinforcement; they have greatly injured, and 
still do harm to the Company; the trade is wholly ruined, etc. 

Of a letter dated the 15 th October, 1640. 

The Swedes on the South River were last spring reinforced with a ship, and fresh settlers 
and goods. Otherwise, they were entirely agreed to come over here with our people, &c. 

We shall treat the Swedes with all civility, although they are beginning to exhibit much 
hostility, such as forcibly sailing up past our fort, trading, threatening to run off with our sloop, 
and so forth. 



Appendix 2. Received 2S January, 1656. Secret. 

We, the undersigned, namely: Amattehooren, Alibakinne, Sinquees, Sachems over the 
district of country called Armenveruis, situate around and on the Schuylkill, declare well and 
truly to have sold to Arent Corsen, the Schuylkil and adjoining lands, for some goods, which 
were not fully paid us, but as we are now fully satisfied therein, therefore we, the abovenamed 
Sachems, do hereby fully and irrevocably convey and cede the same, confirming the aforesaid 
sale, and are ready on all occasions to maintain and defend against all pretension and claim 
to be set up to it by whomsoever, etc. Thus done, and in testimony of the truth signed by 
us natives, in the presence of the undernamed witnesses. Done in fort Bevers reede in the 
South river of New Netherland. Signed, marked in this manner, thereby written: 

1 ,, , c ., .. , ( >//"") the mark of Mechecksouivebe ; 
the mark of Mattehooren. ^~^\ s 

(Jy the mark of Quironkehouck ; 

the mark of Sinquees ; , 

1/7 the mark of Kauke and 

the mark of Alebackinne; £/"T the mark of Wacpacvack. 

Below stood : In presence of us, the underwritten witnesses, and was signed Augustyn 
Heermans, Govert Loockermans, Jeuriaen Blanck, Cornelis Jansen Coele, Sander Leendertsen, 
all cognizant of the first contract. Lower stood. In presence of us, the Committee of the 
Council, and was signed L. van Dincklage, La Montagne. Beneath was : By order of the 
Honorable Council, and signed: J. Hudde. Underneath was: Agrees with the original, and 
signed : Cornelis van Tienhoven, Secret*. 




■o* 



After collation, this is found to agee with the original copy, being sewed at 
N° 23, in a certain letter book from New Netherland, remaining in the office of the 
West India Company, beginning September, 164S, and ending with September, 1650. 



Vol. I. 75 



594 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Appendix 3. Received 2S January, 1656. Secret. 

Extract of a certain letter written from the South River of New Netherland, hy 
Adriaen van Tienhoven to Mr. Petrus Stuyvesant, Director-General of New 
Netherland, dated Fort Bevers reede, 9 th November, 1648. 

'Twere desirable that your Honor had once resolved to come here in person, to look once 
into the condition of this river, for the Indians 1 do here whatever they please. The house 
they erected at Fort Be*versreede, is the greatest insult in the world that can be offered to the 
Director of the General Incorporated West India Company, it has been placed about 12 (sL 13 
feet from our palisades, and thereby shut us out from the sight of the water or kill. Secondly, 
they have occupied all the land round about us, whereupon they have this year planted maize; 
so that we, at present, have not, adjoining the fort, as much land as will this year make a little 
garden; 'tis a shame for them to act thus. I trust, Sir, you will provide against it. Symon 
Root hath begun to build his house, but 'tis again thrown down under foot by violence and 
force, etc. 

To the Valiant Mr. Peter Stuyvesant, Director-General of New Netherland, Curasao and 
dependencies thereof, etc. 

The undernamed good vassals and subjects, residing under the sovereignty of their High 
Mightinesses the Lords States General of the United Netherlands, the patroonship of the 
General Incorporated West India Company, and the government of the honorable and 
valiant Director-General Peter Stuyvesandt, on the Island Ahrumime in the Schuylkil, in the 
South River of New Netherland; humbly represent — Whereas, in the month of March last 
we, by humble petition have set forth to your Honor the losses we have suffered by the 
proceedings of the Swedes, on which petitions your Honor did not scruple, at great trouble to 
repair hither for the relief of us your ever faithful subjects, which affection and as it were 
fatherly care, we thankfully acknowledge. But though we with full confidence assure 
ourselves of being able to dwell here on this South river aforesaid with greater security in 
future, to maintain our families by our industry and diligence, yet we are, nevertheless, up to 
this day, by open force and general violence obstructed in your honored commission, chiefly, 
(coming to particular facts): — 

I, the undersigned Symon Root, most humbly request due indemnity for incurred losses 
and damages; first, for the opposition the Swedes offered to my building at Wigquakoing 2 in 
the year 1647 ; inasmuch as the throwing down the Hon ble Company's arms, and the 
destruction of the building erected by Commissary Andries Hudde, rendered it sufficiently 
apparent, that further occupation there would be prevented by them. 

In like manner also, in the year 1649, Lieutenant Swem Schoete and his assistants, by force 
of arms, regardless of friendly remonstrances and legal protests, utterly ruined, broke in pieces 
and entirely annihilated the house brought to the Mastemaeckers hook, of which the foundation 
timbers were laid and the ties set up. 

' Sic Quart t Swedes. 

' Now, Wicacoa, in Philadelphia. Metnoiri of the Pennsylvania Historical Society, III., pt. i., 46, 98. It i» called 
Wichovaeoing on Linstrom*s Nova Sutcice Carta, in T. Campanius Holm'a Nya Swerige uti America, 86, 37. — E». 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VIII. 595 

In like manner, I, Cornells Mourisen, have been afraid to settle, according to lawful 
commission, authority and deed, on my designated place west of the Mastemaeckers hook. 

Also, in June of the year 1649, Governor John Print/., with his force, hath seized by 
violence the sloop called the Zeepaert, belonging to me Juriaen Planck, and prevented my voyage. 

On the last of December, in the year 1047, the aforesaid John Printz, did in like manner, 
with force and violence, seize me, Jan Geraet, with my boat called the Siraen, visited the 
yacht, and handled the goods in an unchristianlike manner and to the great loss and damage 
of me Jan Geraet, turned them upside down; took out my munitions of war, which consisted 
of about 60 lbs. of powder and six guns, but on my promising to use them only when obliged, 
returned me some powder, about 47 lbs. and three guns; the remainder he kept for himself. 

Pursuing the violence aforesaid: Commissary Hudde did, in the year 1651, on the equitable 
petition of the inhabitants of Fort Bevers rede, namely, Cornells Mourissen, Symon Root and 
Philip Jan sen, allow and point out at a certain place behind Fort Bevers rede, a small piece 
of ground to plant some garden stuff in, which being approved by us, was utterly and at once 
destroyed by an express sent down by Mr. John Printz, aud the fence for the preservation of 
the seed publicly burnt. 

In like manner, did we, Peter Cornelissen and Reynier Dominicus, about the middle of 
April, on the showing of the abovenamed Commissary, make preparation to build on the 
abovemeutioned Island Harommuny, west of the Swede's plantation, and laid the ground 
timbers and set up the ties, which are destroyed ; yea, all the entire work was cut up into 
fire-wood. 

In the same way, we Sander Leendertsen also had land granted to us by express command 
and order of the Director-General Peter Stuyvesant on the aforesaid Island of Aharommuny, 
with Abraham Staets and Gerrit Hendricksen ; the land was measured by the said Commissary 
on the 22 ud May, to which I Sander Leendertsen have brought my clapboards; but the building 
was forcibly prevented about the 24 th May, by the Swedish Governor's Deputies, Hendrick 
Huygen and Jan Papegay, fully armed. 

For which force and hindrance of our necessary business, resorted to by the Swedes, do 
we, both inhabitants and sloop traders, hereby complain to your Honor and demand due 
reparation for the same, and each for his suffered damages done him. In like manner, we 
also complain to your Honor, for inasmuch as we, the aforesaid Symon Root and Cornelia 
Mourisen, have been refused payment by the Swedish subjects, on the ground that, being 
subjects, they need not to pay us. In like manner, we also declare that the Swedish subjects 
have stated to us, that they have been forbidden by their Governor, John Prints, to trade in 
any way with us, which, also, was manifest on divers voyages. We, the undersigned do 
declare all what is above written to be true and truthful, and if necessary will confirm the 
same by solemn oath before all courts and judges. In testimony of the truth we have signed 
this in presence of the undernamed witnesses. Done in Fort Bevers rede, the 16 lh July, 1651. 
Was signed S R, the mark of Symon Root, Cornelis Mourisen bont, Pieter Cornelissen, 
Jeuriaen Planck, Philip Janssen, Jan Gerardy and Sander Govertsen. Lower stood: We, the 
subscribing witnesses, acknowledge and declare that the foregoing subscribers have signed, 
each for himself individually, for so much as concerns him severally. Dated as above. 
Signed, Marten Cryger, A. Hudde, L. Jansen, Abraham Staets. 



59G NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Appendix 4. Received 25 January, 1656. Secret. 

We the undersigned hereby declare and testify, with offer to confirm the same by oath on 
the requisition of the valiant and honorable Mr. Peter Stuyvesant Director General of Curacao 
and New Netherland for and on behalf of the High and Mighty Lords States General and the 
General Incorporated West India [Company,] that on the date hereof, in presence of the said 
Director, did come and appear in proper person a certain Sachem or Chief well known to us, 
called Wappanghzewan, who hath declared to us, who are well versed in the Indian language, 
and at the same time besought us to interpret and make known the same to the said General, that 
he Wappanghzewan about 6 days ago, was sent for by Mr. John Prints, the Swedish Governor, 
who requested him to sell his lands, situate both on the east and west shores of this South River, 
described and named as followeth : On the east bank Matit Conghsingh beginning at the 
N:iriticon Kill 1 and extending westerly down the river unto Maetzingsingh, and on the west 
shore beginning at a certain little Kill, named Neckatoensingh, extending westerly from the 
river unto Sittoensaene, otherwise called the Minquaas Kill, where Fort Christina stands; all 
which lands with their kills and superficies both on the west and on the east shores, have 
always been the property of, and still belong to him Wappingzewan, as he declares and offers 
to prove by the Natives; also, notwithstanding partly occupied on the west side by the Swedes 
and without his, the owner's knowledge or consent, partly settled, although never purchased, 
nor attempted to be bought, except now 5 or 6 days ago, since we landed and began to build 
here. Which aforesaid lands he, the Sachem now was not inclined to sell nor to convey to the 
Swedish Governor because said Governor, without acknowledging him as proprietor, had 
taken the land and had, against his, the Sachem's will, and without asking permission, settled 
it in part without offering him any satisfaction ; but being more favorable to the much respected 
General, the great Sachem of the Manhattans, he is willing to present him the land and the 
property thereof, as his friends Mattahoorn, Aquahoom, Pemenatta and Sinquees had done 
with their lands, called Tamicongh ; which, also, the aforesaid Sachem Wappangzewan 
effectually and indeed hath performed, in the presence of all of us, giving and conveying, by 
solemn shaking of the hand {hanr/aslingc) and signature, to the respected Mr, Petrus Stuyvesant, 
his lands aforesaid, with all right and title thereof; accordingly substituting in our presence 
the aforesaid gentleman in his real and actual possession by a free donation and gift, in further 
assurance promising before us all, the aforesaid donation and free gift at all times for him and 
for his successors, to uphold as valid and to maintain against all gainsay and contradiction, and, 
according to the deed, that he will not transport nor sell to any other Nation the lands aforesaid ; 
in further assurance, in order to prevent all misunderstanding thereof, he offers to go himself 
in person and to point out to those whom the General may be pleased to order, where the 
aforesaid lands lie ; where they begin and how far they extend ; all which we, the subscribers, 
do certify to have been, in the presence of us all, before the respected General, spoken, 
executed, given and conveyed by the aforesaid Sachem Wappinghzewan, without any persuasion, 
guile or craft | and as a further security by the Sachem himself confirmed by the subjoined 
mark affixed by his own hand, at Tamecongh this 30 July, 1651. Lower stood : 

r / y vlx 

This Jzff-y & is the mark of the Sachem Wappanghzewan made by himself. 

1 Raccoon Creek. — Ed 




HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VIII. 597 

(Signed) brian Newton, Geo. Baxter, Daniel Litschoe, Caspar Steynmets, Reynier Dominicus, 
Pieter Harmensen, the H mark of Harmen Janssen, the 2% mark of Hans Lodewycx, made 
by himself. rx. 

Beneath was: Upon collation, by me, found to agree with the original (dated and signed as 
above) and 

(Signed) Cornelis van Ruyven, Secretary. 



Appendix 5. Received 28 January, 1C56. Secret. 

We, the subscribers, all of competent age, namely, VVilhelmus Grasmeer, V. D. M. Cornelis 
de Potter, merchant, Isaack Allerton of Suffolk, merchant, Brian Neuton, Captain-lieutenant, 
George Baxter, Ensign, Isaack de foreest, Select man, do hereby certify and declare on the 
requisition of the Noble, Valiant and Honorable Petrus Stuyvesant, Director-General of 
Curasao, New Netherland, that on Saturday, being the 9 th of July, new style, of this current 
year 1651, in our presence and view, before the said General, in their proper persons, freely 
came and appeared with other natives, inhabitants of New Netherland, three, so named 
Sachems or Chiefs, by name Mattehoorn, Pemenatta and Sinquesz, who in our presence, on the 
propositions submitted to them by the General, through the Interpreter Sander Boyer, in 
presence of the undernamed witnesses, all of whom are well versed in the language of the 
Indians on this river; namely, Andries Hudde, commissary, Roeloff de Haes, Jan Andriesz. 
and Pieter Harmensen, all four free inhabitants and traders on the river, residing at Fort 
Nassau, have answered substantially as follows and, after the same was read, confirmed it by 
solemn shaking of the hands of the General and of us the undersigned. 

First, the said General caused the Interpreter to ask namely Matthehoorn, Pemenattha and 
Sinquessen, whether they were Chiefs and Proprietors of the lands situate on the west side of 
this river at present partly incorporated and settled by the Swede? Whereunto, Matthehoorn 
in the name of all, answers, that they were great Chiefs and Proprietors of the lands, both by 
ownership and by descent and appointment of Minquaas and River Indians; wherefore they 
had power to sell and to make over the lands; and what they did, that should be done 
and remain. 

Secondly, it being proposed and asked by the General, through the Interpreter, what and 
how much land the Swedes had bought from the Sachems or Chiefs on this river"? 

Mattahoorn, the Sachem, answered by asking another question. Why was not the Sachem 
of the Swedes present that they might ask himself, and hear him? The General's reply was, 
that being invited, he was apparently unwilling to come. 

The Chief Mattehoorn answered, secondly — that all Nations coming to the river were 
welcome to them, and that they sold their laud indiscriminately to the first who asked it. 

Thirdly, the Chief Mattehoorn declared that the Dutch nation have been the earliest comers 
and discoverers of the river, who also, first of all, settled thereon among them, and that they 
have always maintained good friendship and commerce with the Dutch; adding thereunto an 
account of presents which were exchanged between them and the Dutch Nation. As a further 
evidence and declaration, he also added, that one Cornelis with one eye, or a film on his eye, 
was the first who coming here, made his dwelling on the river. 



598 NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

N. B. The aforesaid did not fully answer the proposition of the General, who then, through 
his Interpreter, repeated and renewed the question in the following manner; that it was 
neither his nor his nation's custom to buy or occupy any lands which were rightfully bought 
and occupied by any other nation ; he, therefore, requested, before proceeding to purchase any 
more lands, first to know what lands the Swede had bought, and of whom, and what lands 
were now free, and who were the right owners. The question thus put, the Sachem 
Mattehoorn made the following declaration : That when Munuit came to the country with a 
ship, he lay before the Minquaas Kil, where he the Sachem then had a house and lived ; that 
Minuyt then presented him with and gave him a kettle and other trifles, requesting of him as 
much land as Minuyt could set a house on, and a plantation included between G trees, which 
he, the Sachem, sold him, and Minuyt promised him half the tobacco, that would grow on 
the plantation, although it was never given to him. He declared further, that neither the 
Swedes nor any other nation had bought lands of them as right owners, except the patch 
on which Fort Christina stood, and that all the other houses of the Swedes, built at 
Tinnecongh, Hingeesingh 1 in the Schuylkil and at other places were set up there against the 
will and consent of the Indians, and that neither they, nor any other natives had received 
anything therefor. 

But that the present Swedish Governor had 3 @ 4 years ago, bought from the Mantas Indian 
named Siscohoka, still living and from Mechekyralames, now dead, some land on the west 
shore and set his fence thereupon, to wit, from Wychquahoyngh, 2 named by our people 
Creveceur, unto about Mechechasou, 3 of which lands they were not Chiefs nor Proprietors, but 
one Kyckesycken, in our tongue Live Turkey. 4 It is confirmed by the aforesaid Sachem's 
declaration, that the land which the Swede at present occupies, was bought neither by him 
nor by any other nation, except where Fort Christina stands and the Schuylkil, heretofore 
conveyed to Arent Corssen. 

The General further asked through the Interpreter whether they, the Sachems were, then, 
right owners of that land at present occupied by the Swede on the west shore, and further 
westward to the Bay or mouth of the river, and whether they will sell the aforesaid land that 
still remains unsold. The answer of the aforesaid Sachems was : If we sell the Great Sachem 
of the Manhattans the land from the Schuykil down to the Bay, where then will the houses of 
the Swedes remain? Will the Sachem of the Swedes, then, not do us harm, on that account, 
or put us in prison or beat us ; thus making, through fear, some scruple to sell the intermediate 
lands occupied by the Swede. Whereupon the General made answer, that they need expect 
little or no difficulty therefrom, inasmuch as the Schuylkil lauds were given and conveyed 17 @ 
18 years ago to Arent Corssen, which deed he, the Sachem did renew and confirm in 
the years 1648, and again confirmed, so that there was no question on this head. Therefore the 
aforesaid Sachems were again informed by the General, that he was not disposed to make any 
trouble nor to buy any lands that were purchased by the Swede or any other nation, but what 
were free and unsold. He, therefore, had the question once more put to them, whether the 
lands from the west point of the Minquaas Kill down to the Bay or the mouth of the river were 
free and unsold, and would they sell them to the General? To which the Sachem answered : 
Why, Sachem, do you, ask that question so often? We told you the lands are not sold to 
any person. 

1 Kingsessing. * See note 2, supra, p. fi94> ' Compare note 1, supra, p. 292. 

* The Indian name seems to be a compound of the Delaware words, Syckenem, a Turkey, and Chicke, Alive. Memoirs of 
Pennsylvania Historical Society, III., pt i., 146, 149. — Kd. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VIII. 599 

After a little consultation together, the three Sachems aforesaid rose up, to wit — Mattehoorn 
Pemenatta and Sinquesz, and Pemenatta spoke, saying: The Swede builds and plants, indeed, 
on our lands, without buying them or asking us. Wherefore should we refuse you, Great 
Sachem, the land ? We will rather present than sell the Great Sachem the land, so that, should 
the Swedes again pull down the Dutch houses and drive away the people, you may not think, ill 
of us, and we may not draw down your displeasure; which the General having promised and 
consented, they presented him the aforesaid land, and the Sachems gave him and the remaining 
bystanders the hand, in sign of conveyance and free gift ; to wit — the land from the west point 
of the Minquaas Kil, where Fort Christina stands, called in their language Supeskongh, unto 
Boompgens hook, in their language called Neuwsings. And Pemenatta, the present and ceding 
proprietor, stipulates that whenever anything is the matter with his gun, it shall be repaired for 
nothing, and when he come empty among our people, they shall remember [to give] him some 
maize, and again a token of friendship. This we, undersigned, declare substantially thus 
occurred before us, and by the Interpreter Sander Boyer, present with four others versed in the 
Indian tongue, who confirm the same, being ready, when necessary and on being required, to 
ratify this on oath. Thus done at Fort Nassau, on the South river of New Netherland, this 
9 July, 1651. (Signed) Wilhelmus Grasmeer, clergyman, Cornells de Potter, Isaack Alderton, 
Bryan Neuton, George Baxter, A. Hudde, Alexander Boyer, as Interpreter, Rde Haes, the ^ 
mark of Jan Andriesen made by himself. Lower stood. We the undersigned declare that in 
our presence the named witnesses have signed with their own hand and all are of competent 
age and credible witnesses. Signed : Marten Cregier, Captain Lieutenant of New Amsterdam 
burghess company; Abraham Staats, Surgeon and elder of Renslaers Wyck. 

Under was : 

Upon collation by me, this is found to agree with the original, dated and signed as 

above ; and was signed — 

Cornelis van RuyveN; Secretary. 



Appendix 6. Received 28 January, 1G56. Secret 

We Amattehooren, Peminackan, Ackehoorn and Sinquees, Sachems and right owners of the 
lands situate on the west shore of the South River of New Netherland, do hereby certify and 
declare, that we, for ourselves, our heirs and co-heirs of free will and well advised inclination, 
have this 19 July, given and voluntarily presented to Peter Stuyvesant, Chief Sachem 
of the Manhatans, a certain portion of land named Tamecongh, situate on the west shore of 
the aforesaid river, beginning at the west point of the Minquaas Kil, called in the Indian 
tongue Suppeckongh, unto the mouth of the bay or river called Boompjes hook, and in the 
Indian language Canaresse, and so far landward in as our right extends. To wit, to 
the bounds and limits of the Minquaes country; which lands were never before sold or 
conveyed to any nation in the world. 

We, the abovenamed Sachems and proprietors, Amattahoorn, Peminackan, Ackehoorn and 
Sinquees do, on the date underwitten, duly cede and convey the same, with all appendices 
and dependencies thereof, unto the Sachem of the Manhatans, named Peter Stuyvesant, 
Director of New Netherland for the General Incorporated West India Company, surrendering, 
therefore, in presence of the undernamed witnesses, Sachems of the Minquas, to wit: Jonnay 



600 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

and Tonnahoorn, Pimadaase and Cannowa Rocquaes, and the undersigned Christian witnesses, 
fur the behoof and at the request of the Honorable P. Stuyvesant, for the West India Company, 
all actual and real possession, property, right and jurisdiction, not only for ou'selves, but also 
for all our heirs and co-heirs, hereby surrogating and constituting him right Sachem and 
proprietor in our place, without we, the grantors, reserving any part, right or jurisdiction in 
the aforesaid lands, streams, kills and superficies thereof, the hunting and fishing excepted. In 
further assurance and testimony thereof, we declare before and in the presence of the 
undernamed Christian witnesses and aforesaid Sachems, that we, the grantors, have, in full 
satisfaction and contentment, and as a recompense and return for our lands aforesaid, 

Received twelve coats of duffels, twelve kettles, twelve axes, 12 adzes, 24 knives, 12 bars of 
lead, and four guns with some powder, and on condition and express terms that we shall from 
now henceforth, leave the aforesaid lands, trees, fruits, kills and rivers, solely and absolutely 
(the hunting and fishing excepted), to the disposal and pleasure of the aforesaid Sachem or 
Director, Peter Stuyvesant, or whomsoever shall obtain his action with express stipulations 
and promise that we will not hereafter sell or transport the aforesaid lands, in whole or in 
part, to any other nation, nor plant corn thereupon, except with his consent. Whereupon 
we have received and enjoyed the aforesaid cargoes. All done without any guile or deceit, 
and signed with our customary marks, on the land Camecouck itself; this 19 July, 1G55. 
Lower stood: 

this mark is made by Amattehoorn himself; 

this mark is made by Sinquees himself; 

> this mark is made by Ackehoorn himself. 

Understood: We, the undersingned, all of competent age, do hereby certify and declare, 
that this deed and conveyance aforesaid, was done and executed and signed by the abovenamed 
Sachems in our presence, and thereupon the beforementioned cargoes were given in payment, 
and received by the grantors, and we are ready to confirm the same on oath. Done as above. 
(Signed,) Cornells de Potter, Abraham Staes, Martin Kriegier, Gysbert Opdyck, Abraham 
Verplanck, Adriaen Dircksen Coen, Adriaen van Thienhoven, this is the mark of 
Egbert van Borsum, Peter Caspersen, Joost Michielsen, Jacob Janssen huys, Wilhelmus 
Grasmeer, clergyman, Daniel Michielssen. 

Beneath was: Upon collation by me, is found to agree with the original, dated and signed 

as above, and was 

(Signed) Cornelis van Ruvven, Secretary. 




Appendix 7. Received 2S January, 1056. Secret. 

Extract of the letter written by the Director, Petrus Stuyvesant, Director General 
of New Netherland, to Messrs. the Directors of the West India Company, 
Chamber at Amsterdam. Dated 6 October, 1653. 

The Swedes on the South river would be well inclined to repair among us, in case we will 
take them under our safeguard. Hitherto and until we receive further information from your 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VIII. 601 

Honors, we decline their proposal, inasmuch as we know not whether it would be well or ill 
received. I only request your Honors to take this matter into your further consideration, and 
to communicate to us your opiuion thereupon by the earliest opportunity, etc. 



Ajrpendix S. Received 2S January, 1656. Secret. 

Extract of the letter of Gerrit Bicker, Commandant of Fort Casimier, to Petrus 
Stuyvesant, Director General in New Netherland, without date and signature. 

Yesterday, the 7 lb June, your Honor's very welcome letter was handed to me by Lonrens 
Hansen, to which this shall serve as answer. 

On the last of May, I descried a sail, but not knowing what it was, sent Adriaen van 
Tienhoven in company with some free men to ascertain the particulars; who unexpectedly 
returned hither on the next day about two hours before the ship, with intelligence, that she 
was a Swedish vessel full of people with a new Governor, and that he will have this place and 
fort, as it stood on ground belonging to the Crown, as they alleged ; about an hour after this 
news, came Captain Swen Schote with the ship's boat and about twenty soldiers, who on coming 
up, I welcomed as friends, judging that if he wished to attempt anything, he would at least 
give notice. But on the contrary, he made his men come quickly in with him, and at the 
point of the sword, demanded the surrender of the river and of the fort. Though I complained, 
I could, with difficulty obtain respite enough to send two Deputies on board to demand of the 
Governor his commission and a little time for consultation ; but before the messengers had 
got on board, two shotted guns were fired over the fort, as a signal; whereupon the people 
immediately were deprived of their side arms, and aim was taken to fire at them, because 
they did not surrender their pieces, which were immediately torn from their shoulders; and 
the guns at the bastions were forthwith manned ; the messengers returning, brought word 
that he would not give an hour's delay, and that he had his commission on board the ship 
and that we should soon see its bullets; and the soldiers were forthwith driven out the 
fort and their property detained as well as mine, and I could scarcely induce him, by 
prayer, not to be turned out naked with wife and children ; and all the property in this 
fort was confiscated by them ; yea, the very grain, and they have hardly left me enough to 
live with, etc. 

The Governor asserts that Her Majesty of Sweden, hath permission from their High 
Mightinesses to take prompt possession of this river. 



Extract of the letter written by the Hon ble Peter Stuyvesant, Director-General 
in New Netherland, to the Directors of the West India Company, Chamber 
at Amsterdam. Dated 27 lb July, 1654. 

A ship arrived last May, in the South River of New Netherland, said to belong to the Crown 

of Sweden, with some considerable reinforcements; about, as is stated, three hundred souls, 

with a new Governor; who lying in front of our Fort Casimier fired two (5X three guns as a 

salute. Whereupon 20 (S. 30 armed soldiers landed from the ship and were duly welcomed 

Vol. I. 76 



G02 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

on shore, in front of the gate of the fort l>y our Commandant there, named Gerrit Bicker; 
thereupon conducted through the gate, which stood open, into the fort, where being come, 
they immediately divided themselves, some to the bastions or bulwarks of the fort, others 
overpowered the few men belonging to the Company, being at the time 10 or 12 soldiers, 
and in this manner made themselves masters of the fort. Seven or eight of the Company's 
soldiers have come hither with Adriaen van Tienhoven. The remainder, with Commandant 
Bicker and almost all the freemen, have remained there, and taken the oath of fidelity to the 
new Swedish Governor. 

The fuller details of this scandalous surrender of the abovementioned fort, and the truth 
thereof, your Honors can deduce from the annexed copies of depositions and unsigned letter 
of the abovenamed Bicker in answer to mine, which we have received overland, etc. 



Depositions. 
Before me, Cornells van Ruyven, admitted Secretary in the service of the West India 
Company, in New Netherland, appeared Adriaen van Tienhoven, aged 36 years, a native of 
Breuckelen, late Clerk of the Court of Justice in the South river, who at the requisition 
of Cornells van Tienhoven, Fiscal, in presence of and before the Hou ble Nicasius de Sille, first 
Councillor of New Netherland, testifies and declares, in place and on promise of a solemn oath, 
if necessary, that it is true and truthful that by him, the deponent, and other inhabitants as 
well belonging to Fort Casimier as freemen thereabout, was seen on the evening of Saturday, 
being the 30 lb May, a ship, without knowing whether it was Dutch or English, or of other 
nation. Whereupon Commandant Gerrit Bicker hoisted the Prince's flag on said fort and 
commanded this deponent accompanied by four freemen, namely, Egbert Gerritse, Cornells 
Teunisse, Cornells Mauritz and Peter Harmans to proceed to the ship aforesaid, in order to 
ascertain whence she came. And on Sunday forenoon, about S o'clock, he, the deponent, 
with the four freemen, returned ashore, reporting that she was a Swedish ship, having on 
board a new Governor of the Swedes, and many other people ; also, that the Swedes intended 
to surprize and capture said Fort Casimier for the Crown of Sweden. Thereupon, all the 
freemen and the Hon ble Company's servants addressed themselves to Commandant Bicker, and 
requested him to give orders for defending the place. To which Bicker answered: What 
should I do? there is no powder. He neither gave nor issued any order, and about eleven 
o'clock in the forenoon, the Swedes landed armed, to the number of about 30 men, whereupon 
Bicker went to meet them, saluting and welcoming them and led them into the fort, of 
which they immediately took possession, stripping the soldiers of all their arms including their 
side arms. He, the deponent, seeing that Commandant Bicker stood still, not once 
demanding or asking for their Commission or order for such proceeding, turned to the 
Captain of the Swedes, named Swens Schoote, and inquired of him, where his Commission 
or order was? To which he, deponent, received for answer: I have nothing to do with 
you ; let your commander speak. Further, he, the deponent, asked Gerrit Bicker there 
present, whether he may not go aboard to see whether he might not get a sight of the Governor 
John Rysingh's Commission or order; which Bicker allowed him to do. Thereupon went he, 
the deponent, accompanied by Peter Ebel, Burgher Serjeant, on board and requested of the 
new Swedish Governor copy of any Commission or order he might have to take forcible 
possession of Fort Casimier, situate in the South river of New Netherland, and the lands 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VIII. 603 

belonging to the IIon ble West India Company. Whereunto he received for answer from the 
Swedish Governor, that he did so by orders from Her Majesty in Sweden, who, said he, had 
sent Ambassadors to their High Mightinesses, to ascertain whether their High Mightinesses 
had given orders and instructions to build Fort Casimier on this place, and to usurp the bounds 
of the territory belonging to the Crown; whereunto, as the Governor stated, their High 
Mightinesses had answered, that Her Majesty must inquire of the Hon ble West India Company 
about it; the Directors of which had also given for answer, that they had not issued any 
orders for overstepping the Swedish bounds, much less for the erection of Fort Casimier; 
and that they had further told the Swedish Ambassadors: If our people are in your way there, 
drive them off. Thereupon, the Governor slapped him, deponent, on the breast, and said: 
Go, tell your Governor that. He, the deponent, coming ashore with his companion, Peter Ebel, 
found the fort beset with Swedish sentinels, as well near the guns as on the walls, and could 
not enter the fort without their consent. All which he, the deponent, declares to be true and 
offers to verify the same on oath, whenever necessary and on being required. Ady, ll lh June, 
A° 1654. New Amsterdam, New Netherland. (Signed) Adriaen van Tienhoven. Lower: 
Nicasius de Sille. 

In Court. Adriaen van Tienhoven late Clerk of the South river of New Netherland being 
legally summoned by the Fiscal, and the above written his declaration dated I1 ,h June A° 
1654, being distinctly read to him, word for word, and being asked, on the requisition of the 
Fiscal, if the aforesaid his deposition is, in all its parts true and truthful, and whether he is 
prepared to confirm it, with a good conscience, by solemn oath. Thereupon Adriaen van 
Tienhoven, in presence of the Fiscal Cornelis van Tienhoven answered : So truly help me 
God Almighty. Done Amsterdam in New Netherland, ady 16' u March A 1655. Lower 
stood. In my presence. 

(Signed) Cornelis van Ruyven, Secretary. 

Before me, Cornelis van Ruyven, Secretary of New Netherland residing in Fort Amsterdam in 
New Netherland, appeared the worthy Peter Ebel of Meckelenburch freeman, aged about 40 
years, who, on the requisition of Cornelis van Tienhoven, Fiscal of New Netherland, in presence 
and before the Hon bI ' Mr. Nicasius de Sille, first Councillor, testifies and declares in place and 
on promise of a solemn oath, if necessary, that it is true and certain that by him, the deponent 
and other inhabitants both of Fort Casimier and freemen thereabout was seen on Saturday 
evening, being the 30 ,b of May, a ship without knowing whether she was Dutch, English, or of 
some other Nation. Whereupon the Commandant Gerrit Bicker had the flag of said fort 
hoisted, and commandeed Adriaen van Tienhoven, accompanied by four freemen to proceed 
to the ship, to ascertain whence she came. The abovenamed commanded person returned 
from on board on Sunday forenoon, about eight o'clock, and reported that it was a Swedish 
ship on board which was a new Governor of the Swedes and many other people ; also, that 
the Swedes intended to surprize and capture the aforesaid Fort Casimier for the Crown of 
Sweden. Thereupon all the freemen and the Hon ble Company's servants, or at least, a 
majority of them, (he, the deponent, especially, being Sergeant of the burghers) addressed 
themselves to the Commandant and requested that he would give orders for defence. To 
which Bicker answered: What should I do ? He did not give nor issue any order; the 
deponent requested the Commandant to allow the gates to be locked, which he did not. 
About eleven o'clock in the forenoon, the Swedes, with about 30 men armed, landed from on 



004 NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

board the ship which fired shotted guns over the fort. Although advised of the designs of the 
Swedes, and seeing the armed soldiers land with a Captain and Lieutenant, the Commandant, 
without giving any orders to the soldiers, nor directing them to see to their arms, nor 
providing them with powder, which he said lie had not, went out of the fort to welcome, 
receive and conduct the Swedes into the fort, of which they immediately took possession and 
disarmed the soldiers to such a degree that they could not retain their side arms. This being 
accomplished, the beforenamed Commandant Bicker commanded Adriaen van Thienhoven, 
and requested this deponent, to go to the Swedish ship and the newly arrived Swedish 
Governor to inquire and ask the reasons, and by what authority bis men forcibly took 
possession of, and invaded Fort Casimier, situate on the South river of New Netherland, for 
and in the name of the Crown of Sweden. The Swedish Governor, whose name is John 
Rysingh, answered that he did so by authority of her Majesty in Sweden, who, he also stated, 
had sent Ambassadors to their High Mightinesses to ascertain if their High Mightinesses had 
authorized and ordered to locate Fort Casimier at this place, and to encroach on the limits of 
territory belonging to the Crown. To which, as the Governor alleged, their High Mightinesses 
answered, No. Also, that her Majesty had addressed the West India Company, whose 
Directors had given for answer, that they had not authorized the encroachment on the 
Swedish limits, much less the building of Fort Casimier in the South river, and that they had 
further told the Swedish Ambassadors: If our people are in your way there, drive them off. 
Moreover, the Governor, thereupon, slapped Adriaen van Tienhoven on the breast with bis 
his hand and said : Go your way and tell your Governor that. Adriaen van Tienhoven and 
he, the deponent, coming ashore, found the fort occupied, Swedish sentinels by the guns on 
the walls, without whose permission they could not enter the fort. This, the deponent 
declares to be true and certain, offering to verify the same by an oath if necessary and when 
required. Ady. ll ,h May A" 1G54; New Amsterdam. Lower stood : This is the mark P. E of 
Peter Ebel made by himself in presence of the subscribing persons. Lower : Nicasius de Sille. 

Before, etc., appeared Cornells Jansen Coelen, skipper of the yacht '< Vliegenie hart, who 
deposeth and declareth the same as Peter Ebel, except that he does not know that Bicker was 
requested to give orders, and that he did not hear the conversation Adriaen van Tienhoven 
had with the Swedish Governor. Also, he heard the Swedish officers say ; if the soldiers will 
not willingly surrender their arms, fire on them. All which he declares to be true, and 
promises to verify the same on oath, if necessary. Ady 12 th June, 1654. New Amsterdam. 
Signed, Cornells Janse Coelen. Lower: Nicasius de Sille. 

Before me, Cornells van Ruyven, etc., appeared Elias Emmens of Swol, aged 37 years, who, 
on the requisition of the Fiscal, Cornells van Tienhoven, and in presence of the Hon ,,le Nicasius 
de Sille, first Councillor, deposed and declared, that he and another did, on the 30 th of May 
last, see a ship, not knowing what ship she was, and that, by orders of the Commandant 
Bicker, one Adriaen van Tienhoven and some free men, were sent thither to inquire what 
vessel it was; who, returning, related that she was a Swedish ship, and that she had come to 
seize fort Casimier, situate on the South river of New Netherland, which the Commandant 
learning, he left the people with whom he then was standing, consisting of some freemen and 
servants of the Company, and turning about, went away without giving or causing to be given, 
any orders for the occasion. After the Commandant had surrendered the fortress, he, the 
deponent, as a servant of the West India Company, requested his arms of the Commandant, 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS : VIII. 605 

which he repeatedly refused, and said, that they had fallen to the Crown of Sweden. He 
declares that he does not know anything more, as he was at the time without the fort, ahout 
his business. All which he declares to verify on oath when necessary and if required. Done, 
New Amsterdam, 11 June, A° 16-54. Declares further, that not a handful of the grain last 
sent, was distributed to any of the soldiers. Signed, Elias Emmens Zwollang. Lower: 
Nicasius de Sille. 

Before me, Cornells van Ruyven, admitted Secretary in the service of the West India 
Company in New Netherland, appeared Corporal Jan Adamse, aged 28 years, a native of 
Worms, who, on the requisition of Cornells van Tienhoven, Fiscal of New Netherland, in 
presence of and before Mr. Nicasius de Sille, first Councillor, testifies and declares, in the stead 
and with the promise of a solemn oath, that by him, the deponent and others, both inhabitants 
of fort Casimier and freemen thereabout, was descried on Saturday, 30 th May, a ship, 
without knowing whether she was Dutch, English or other nation. Whereupon the 
Commandant, Gerrit Bicker, had the Prince's flag hoisted, and commanded Adriaen van 
Tienhoven, in company with some freemen to board said ship. Who returned and reported, 
that she was a Swedish ship, and that she came to seize the fort for the Crown of Sweden, 
whereupon some of the garrison repaired for orders to the Commandant for the defence of the 
fort. To whom he gave for answer: What shall I do? there is no powder: although there 
was plenty of ammunition, for he on a certain previous occasion, had heard Bicker's wife 
say: Wherefore will people give that fine powder to the soldiers; 'tis better to barter it for 
Beaver; and each got only 3 tin spoonfuls of powder. The Swedes, landing, meanwhile, 
Bicker went out of the fort to the shore, and welcomed the Swedes, whom he conducted to 
the fort, offering them the precedence, which the Swedish Captain declined, and he Bicker 
went before, conducting him into his quarters. And all the posts and guards were then 
occupied by the Swedes, and all the soldiers disarmed to their side arms inclusive. Moreover, 
Bicker caused his own boy to haul down the flag, and Bicker, himself took from him, the 
deponent, all his remaining ammunition, and threw it in the garret, saying : That is now 
forfeited to the Crown. When departing, Bicker requested him, the deponent, not to say 
anything bad behind his back. All which he declares to be true. Signed Johannes Adams. 
Lower stood: Nicasuis de Sille. In the margin is — Adi 11 June, 1654. Amsterdam in 
New Netherland. 

Jan Adamse, late Corporal in the South river of New Netherland, being legally summoned 
to Court, and the annexed his declaration dated 11 June, 1654, being distinctly read to him 
word for word, and being asked on the requisition of the Fiscal whether the aforesaid his 
deposition is true and certain in all its parts, and if he be ready to confirm the same on oath, 
with a good conscience. Thereupon Jan Adamse, in presence of the Fiscal answers. — So 
truly help me God Almighty. Done, Amsterdam in New Netherland, this 16 lb March A° 
1655. Lower stood : In my presence, and 

(Signed) Cornelis van Ruyven, Secretary. 

Appeared, etc. Hendrick Siliacquis of Groeningen, aged 44 years; testifies to all that Jan 
Adamse hath declared, except that he did not hear Bicker's wife say, that it was better to trade 
the powder for Beaver, than to give it to the soldiers. Item, that his arms were not taken 
away by Bicker. He declares further, that he knows, that divers munitions of war, consisting 
of powder, lead, iron, etc., were sent and received from time to time, inasmuch as he, himself, 



506 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

as soldier of the fort, did help to bring it up; which the deponent declares to be true, under 
offer of oath. This 11 June, 1654 ; New Amsterdam. Signed : Hendrick Siliacques. Lower: 
Nicasius de Sille. 

Hendrick Siljaques, a soldier, being legally summoned to Court, to whom the annexed, his 
declaration, dated 11"' June, 1G54, is distinctly read, word for word, and being on the requisition 
of the Fiscal asked, if his deposition be, in all its parts, true and certain, and if he be ready 
with a good conscience to confirm it by oath? Thereupon he, in the presence of the Fiscal 
Cornelis van Tienhoven answers: So truly help me God Almighty. This 16 th March, A 
1055. Amsterdam, in New Netherland. Lower stood: In my presence, and 

(Signed) Cornelis van Ruyven, Secretary. 

Before me, Cornelis van Ruyven, etc., appeared Codefried Cloeck, of Aldernag, aged 30 
years; Symon van Straten, of Nimwegen, aged 31 years; Mathys Beusyne, of Calis, aged 
28 years; Jan Ilendrickse, of Struckhausen, aged 25 years; Hans Aelbertss, of Brunswick, 
aged 24 years, declaring, word for word, all that Jan Adamse hath declared, except that none 
of them hath heard Bicker's wife say : 'Tis better that such fine powder were sold for Beaver, than 
to be given to the soldiers, hem, that their arms were not taken by Bicker, but by the 
Lieutenant of the Swedes. All which they, the deponents, will verify by oath when necessary 
and on being required. This 11"' June, 1654. New Amsterdam. Signed, Godefriedt Clue, 
Symon van der Straten, Matthys Bensien, Jan Hendrickse, Hans Albertss. Lower stood: 
Nicasius de Sille. 

Matthew Boucheine, a soldier, being legally summoned to Court, to whom the preceding, 
bis declaration, dated 11"' June, A° 1654, is distinctly read, word for word, and being, on the 
requisition of the Fiscal asked, if the aforesaid, his deposition, be true and certain in all its 
parts, and if he be ready with a good conscience to confirm it by oath? Thereupon he, in the 
presence of the Fiscal Tienhoven answers: So truly help me God Almighty. This 16 ,h 
March, A 1655. Amsterdam in New Netherland. Lower stood: In my presence, and was 

(Signed) Cornelis van Ruyven, Secretary. 



Appendix 9. Received 2S January, 1656. Secret. 

Extract from the copy of a letter written by the Swedish Governor, Johan Rysing, 
to M r I'etrus Stuyvesant, Director-General in New Netherland, dated 27 lh 
May, A 1654, in the South river. 

I cannot neglect acquainting your Honor that I, being safely arrived some days since in the 
Royal ship the Aren, with a goodly number of people from the Kingdom of Sweden, have by 
the judgment and in the name of Her Royal Majesty of Sweden, my most gracious Queen, 
summoned the fort erected at the Sand point, which, after exclusion of further delay, was 
voluntarily surrendered with the adjoining Colonists, who learning the reasonable conditions 
offered them, together with the liberty of going or remaining, repaired under the obedience of 
Her Royal Majesty aforesaid, and afterwards took the oath of allegiance and fidelity at our 
hands. As this is a matter of greater consequence than can be decided among Servants, who 
must only obey orders, the Sovereigns on both sides have to settle this matter among themselves, 
and agree among themselves about it, etc. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS : VIII. 607 

Appendix 10. Received 2S January, 1G5G. Secret. 

Capitulation and Conditions on which Fort Casimier is surrendered into the 
hands of the Hon bIe Director Petrus Stuyvesant by the Commandant 
Swen Schuts. 

First. The Commandant shall, whenever he pleases and has an opportunity by the arrival 
of Royal or private ships, be at liberty to remove from this Fort Casimier, the guns belonging 
to the Crown, both large and small, consisting, according to the return of the Commandant, of 
four iron 14 pounders and live guns for canister shot [schroot stucken) ; to wit, four small and 
one large. * 

Secondly. As a body guard to the Commandant, twelve men 1 fully accoutred and with the 
Royal Ensign, shall march out of the fort, the remainder only with their side arms; on 
condition that the guns and muskets belonging to the Crown, shall be and remain at the 
disposal of the Commandant, to remove, or have them removed from the fort, whenever the 
Commandant shall have an opportunity. 

Thirdly. All his private movables shall be delivered undamaged to the Commandant, to 
take away with him, or to have them removed whenever he pleases, together with the property 
of all the officers. 

Conditional that the Commandant remains on this day to deliver into the hands of the 
General the Fort Casimier, with all the guns and ammunition, material and other effects 
belonging to the General Incorporated West India Company. Done, concluded and signed 
by the contracting parties on the ll tb September, 1655. On board the ship the TVaeg riding 
at anchor near Fort Casimier. 



Appendix 11. Received 2S January, 165G. Secret. 

Capitulation between the Hon We Valiant Johan Rysingh, Governor of New 
Sweden on the one part, and the Hon ble Valiant Petrus Stuyvesant, 
Director-General over New Netherland, on the other part. 

First. All guns, ammunition, material, provisions and other effects belonging to the Most 
Illustrious Crown of Sweden and the South Company, at present in and about Fort Christina, 
shall be and remain to the above Crown and South Company, and it depends on the pleasure 
of the Governor to take them with him or to deliver them to the said General Petrus 
Stuyvesant, on condition they being demanded, shall be restored without any delay. 



Governor Johan Rising together with all superior and inferior officers, servants and 
soldiers shall march out with drum beating, tile playing, colors Hying, match lighting, 
bullets in the mouth, with hand and side arms, first to Timber Island, 1 whither the people, 
after they will have left the fort, shall be safely conveyed, and lodge in the houses there until 
the departure in the ship Waeg of the Governor who with his suite and property shall at 
furthest within the space of fourteen days, be safely and certainly conveyed and brought to 

' Near Wilmington, Delaware. Its precise location is laid down in plan of the town of Christina, in T. Campanius Holm's 
Jfya Swerige, 81, and in Memoirs of Pennsylvania Historical Society, III., pt. i., 84. — Ed. 



608 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Sandyhook, situate five leagues outside the Manhatans. Meanwhile Governor Rising and 
Factor Elswyck shall be allowed to remain with four or five servants, so long in the fort, for 
the purpose of arranging their affairs. 

3. 

All writings, letters, documents and actes belonging to the Crown of Sweden, the 
Southern Company or to private persons, found in Fort Christina, remain untouched, 
undisturbed and unexamined in the Governor's hands, to carry them away whithersoever 
he pleases. 

4. 
None of the officers, soldiers, servants or freemen of the Crown of Sweden or of the Southern 
Company, shall be detained against their will, but be allowed to depart with the Governor, 
free and unhindered, if they please. 

5. 

Al! ministers, officers, soldiers and freemen of the Crown of Sweden and Southern Company, 
shall retain their proper movables, unhindered and uninjured. 

6. 
Should any servants or freemen be willing but not ready now, to depart with the Governor 
and his suite, they shall be allowed one year and six weeks to dispose of their real and 
personal property, on condition that they take the proper oath of fidelity for the time that 
they remain on the river. 

7. 

Should there be any Swedes or Fins disinclined to depart, Governor Risingh shall be at 
liberty to admonish them to leave, and if inclined to accompany him on such admonition, 
they shall not be detained or prevented by the General, and those who will, then, remain 
here, and earn their living in the country, shall enjoy the freedom of the Augsburgh Confession, 
and one person to instruct them therein. 

8. 

Mr. Johan Risingh, Factor Elswyck with other high and low officers, soldiers and freemen 
who will now depart with their proper movables, shall be provided for that purpose by the 
General with a proper ship, which shall receive them at Sandyhook from the coming vessel 
and convey them to the Texel, and thence directly with a hoy, sloop or other suitable craft, to 
Gottenburgh, without any charge ; but such sloop, or ship shall not be detained at Gottenburgh, 
for which Mr. Risingh is responsible. 

9. 

Should Governor Risingh, Factor Elswyck, or any servants of the Crown of Sweden or the 
Southern Company, have engaged themselves on behalf of said Crown or Company for any 
debts, they shall not be arrested therefor within the said General's government. 

10. 
Governor Risingh shall be at liberty to inform himself of the conduct of the late 
Commandant Schute, his officers and other soldiers in the surrender of the fort on the 
Sand point. 

11. 

Provided the Governor engage himself to cause the people under his command to quit Fort 
Christina, and deliver it up to the General on this day, the f | of this month of September. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VIII. G09 

Done and subscribed on the f-f aforesaid, of the year 1C55, at the place of parole, between 
fort Christina and the General's encampment. 

(Signed) Johan Risingh. 
P. Stuvvesant. 

It is further capitulated that the skipper with whom the Hon b,e Governor Johan Risingh 
and Factor Hendrick Elswyck will depart, shall be expressly ordered and instructed to land 
said Messrs. Risingh and Elswyck in person, either in Englaud or France, and that the General 
shall loan Mr. Johan Risingh in cash or in bills of exchauge, the sum of three hundred pounds 
Flemish, which the said Governor Johan Risingh undertakes to repay in cash or exchange at 
Amsterdam to the General or his order, within the term of six months after receipt of said 
moneys. Meanwhile, hypothecating for the moneys aforesaid, an equivalent in the Crown or 
the Southern Company's effects to be left, under receipt, in the hands of the General; 
corresponding duplicates hereof, to be made and to be signed on both sides. Ady ff September, 
1655, on the place of parole, between Fort Christina and the encampment of General 

Petrus Stuyvesant. 

( Signed ) Johan Risingh. 
I'. Stuvvesant. 



Secret Resolution of the States General on the preceding Papers. 

[From the Register of Secret Resolutions of the States General, la the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Friday, 2S th January, 1656. 



Folio 168. 



Received a letter from the Directors of the West India Company, Chamber 

West India Com- r J 

P anv - at Amsterdam, dated the 24 th instant, and therewith in accordance with their 

High Mightinesses' iterated letter, a Deduction with the papers and corroborative documents 
Deduction relative belonging to the same, and relating to the Swedes who have come over from 

to the Swedes from . 

NewNetheriand. New Netherland. Which being considered, it is resolved and concluded to refer 
the aforesaid letter, deduction, papers and corroborative documents, to Messrs. Huygens and 
other their High Mightinesses' Deputies, for the West India Company's affairs, to inspect, 
examine and report thereon. Secrecy thereupon was most particularly recommended. 



Resolution of the Common Council of the City of Amsterdam. 

[ From the Rewiutien van c/e Vroedachappen, A., p. 63 ; In the SUid Huys, Amsterdam. ] 

12 ,h February, 1656. 
iMiand Documents, Messrs. Spiegel, Witsen, Geelvinck, Van Loon, Bontemantel and Hasselaar are 
Promotion of Trade requested and appointed a Committee, on the occasion of the present war in 

iu New Netherland ^ rr r 

and benentine the Poland, to consider with the Presidents, how trade in New Netherland could 

West India Compa- ' 

ny - be increased and the West India Company benefited ; and to report their 

information and opinion. 

Vol. I. 77 



010 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS 

Chamber at Amsterdam to the States General. 

[ From tho Original in the Royal Archives at the Hague ; File, Wett Indie. ] 

To the High and Mighty Lords States General of the United Netherlands. 

High and Mighty Lords! 

The Directors of the Incorporated West India Company, Chamber at Amsterdam, did, in the 
year 1G54, call your High Mightinesses' attention to the necessity then existing to conclude 
and ratify in the countries of New Netherland a certain and assured Boundary between 
those of New England and this State. And as the Directors aforesaid are content that certain 
Provisional Boundary concluded, yonder, in the year 1650, be included therein, they 
accordingly requested your High Mightinesses' Ambassadors then in England, may be 
instructed to apply to the Lord Protector either that the aforesaid Provisional Boundary may 
be approved, or the Directors on both sides be authorized to agree on and arrange a new one 
subject to your High Mightinesses' and his Highness' approval. If a pertinent proposal has 
been drawn up by the said Ambassadors on this subject, it has been without any result, as far 
as the said Directors are advised. Since that time, the case has been that, in New Netherland 
some private Englishmen have not hesitated to usurp the possession of some of the Company's 
lands. Nevertheless, the chief and principal men of that nation give out and declare to be 
well satisfied with, and inclined to remain within the limits of the aforesaid Provisional 
Boundary, in case Director Stuyvesant could obtain your High Mightinesses' approbation 
thereof, or else a general authorization. Therefore, the aforesaid Directors have deemed it 
necessary to apply again to your High Mightinesses and humbly to request you to be pleased 
to cause to be issued and handed to the Company, the aforesaid Acte of approbation, and 
authorization, that they may use either the one or the other, as circumstances may direct 
and the public service may demand. Which doing, etc. 

Delivered in the name and on the behalf of the Directors aforesaid, the 22 nd February, 1656. 

(Signed) Gysbert Rudolphy. 



^Resolution of the States General on the preceding Letter. 

I From the Register of West India Affairs, 1C52 — 1663, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Tuesday, the 22 nd February, 1656. 
Folio eoo. Read at the Meeting a certain Remonstrance of the Directors of the 

Incorporated West India Company, Chamber at Amsterdam. Which being considered, it is 
Raiincation of the resolved and concluded to issue a suitable Acte of Ratification of certain Articles 

Boundary iu New 

Netherland. f agreement made and concluded at Herford, in Cannitticot, on the 19 lh 

September, 1650, between the arbitrators of the Commissioners of the United English Colonies 
and Petrus Stuyvesant, Director-General of the Netherlands Colonies, respecting a Provisional 
Boundary there. The abovenamed Directors have to take care that a similar Acte of 
Ratification of the aforesaid Articles be also issued by the Lord Protector of England, Scotland 
and Ireland. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VIII. 611 

Ratification of the Treaty of Hartford by the States General. 

[ From the Acte-Boek of the States General, in the Royal ArchiTes at the Hague. ] 

Act of approbation of the therein inserted Extract of an Agreement made and 
concluded at Hartford, relative to the Boundary line between New Netherland 
and New England, &c. 

Foito 339. The States General of the United Netherlands. To all those who shall see these 
presents or hear them read, Greeting. Be it Known: Whereas there hath been delivered 
unto us, by order of the Directors of the Incorporated West Company at the Chamber at 
Amsterdam, the Extract of the Articles of Agreement hereafter set forth, made and concluded 
at Hartford in Conitticot, the nineteenth of September, XVl c and fifty, relating as well to the 
Line of Division between New Netherland and New England as to other matters, in 
the words following, 

Extract of the Articles of Agreement made and concluded at Hartford, situate in 
Conitticot, the 19 ,h September, 1G50, between the Arbitrators of the Hon hle 
Commissioners of the United Colonies and Petrus Stuyvesant, Director of 
New Netherland. 

With respect to the Boundary line between the United English Colonies, and the Dutch 
Province of New Netherland, we agree and conclude as follows: 

1. That on Long Island, a line drawn from the westernmost part of Oyster bay, and thence 
in a direct and straight course to the sea shore, shall be the Boundary between the Dutch and 
English on Long Island ; the Eastern part for the English, and the western part for the Dutch. 

2. The boundary on the Mainland shall begin on the west side of Greenwich bay, being 
about four miles from Stanford, and thence run inland in 4 northerly course Twenty miles, 
provided it shall not come within ten miles of the North river; after that as it shall be agreed 
upon by the two Governors — i. e., of the Dutch and New Haven; and 'tis agreed that the 
Dutch shall not at any time hereafter build any houses within six miles of the said line; 
the inhabitants of Greenwich to remain until further order and consideration under the 
government of the Dutch. 

3. The Dutch shall hold and occupy the land at Hartford which they now actually possess, 
known by divers marks and tokens, and all the remaining lands on both sides of the Fresh 
river to belong and remain to the English there. And it is in like manner agreed that the 
aforesaid Boundary both on the island and mainland shall be observed and kept inviolate both 
by the United English Colonies and the Dutch Nation, without any further extension or trouble 
on either side, until there be a final conclusion determined upon in Europe, by the mutual 
consent of both the States of England and Holland. 



"B 



Respecting Fugitives. 

It is agreed that the same method shall be observed between the United English Colonies 
and the Dutch Nation in this country of New Netherland, agreeably to the eighth Article of 
the confederation between the United English Colonies, in that case provided. 



(512 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Concerning the proposition of a closer union and friendship between the English and the 
Dutch Nation in these parts, especially against a common enemy: We judge it to be worthy 
of good consideration by the United Colonies, and in like manner, desire it may be communicated 
and recommended to them, that a resolution therein may be taken at the next annual meeting of 
the Commissioners. And in testimony of our unanimous consent to the foregoing several 
conclusions, have we signed these with our own hands, this nineteenth September, Anno XVI e 
and fifty. 

Lower stood: Symon Broadstreete. Tomas Willet. 

Thomas I'rence. George Baxter. 

Therefore have we, after mature deliberation approved and ratified, as we do hereby approve 
and ratify the Articles mentioned in the foregoing extract; requiring and ordering, that the 
contents thereof shall take effect according to its form, and be observed and maintained by all 
and every residing within our jurisdiction whom it may in any wise concern, without doing or 
suffering anything to be done to the contrary, on pain of incurring our highest displeasure. 
For such we have found to be for the greatest advantage of the country. Given at the Hague 
under our seal, paraph and the signature of our Clerk on the two and twentieth of February, 
XV l c and fifty-six. 



Committee of the West India Company to the Committee of the City of Amsterdam. 

[From the r.nndle endorsed Verfichrtde Stukkeii rakcntle de Colonia van Niexiw Ncderlandt, Nog. 2, 8, in the Stad I/uys, Amsterdam. ] 

To the Honorable the Committee of the City of Amsterdam for the affairs of the West 

India Company. 

*> 
Honorable gentlemen. 

Holland noenments, The answers ofthe Committee of the Directors of the West India Company in 

xv ' ls4 ' yesterday's Conference to the questions proposed by you, are in substance briefly 

as follows : 

First. Concerning the acquisition in New Netherland. 

That as the superintendence of that district is left by the respective Chambers exclusively 
to the management ofthe Directors here, the occasion fitly presents itself to attach and affix 
that land to this City. 

That the Directors aforesaid will willingly undertake to communicate to the Regents here 
the orders which might be successively made for the prosperity of the aforesaid Country, and 
to do nothing without their knowledge. 

That the climate there is very mild and healthy, entirely agreeable to the constitutions of 
the inhabitants of this country, also by nature adapted to the production of all sorts of Eastern 
fruits and crops, besides the conveniency of Trade which daily increases, in divers respects, 
both with the Natives of those parts and the neighboring English. 

That in order to maintain the aforesaid acquisition and to reap the fruits thereof in their 
time, what is particularly, yea solely required is, that it be properly peopled. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VIII. 613 

That such population cannot be sufficiently promoted by the Company on account of its 
unfavorable circumstances, and it is consequently desirable that the government of this City 
could be induced to expend annually for some time a certain amount of money in the conveying 
over and transportation of people. 

That such people should be provided, exclusive of passage, with one year's support, (the 
voyage included) after which they would be in a condition to maintain themselves. 

That the Company will assign to such people sufficient and suitable land ; and in case the 
Regents of the City conclude that those people should settle on the South river, where the soil 
is richest but the population smallest, Fort Casimier can be placed provisionally in the hands 
of the City for better defence and security. 

That the expenses to be incurred in the transportation and support of the aforesaid people, 
should, after the lapse of a certain time, be made good by them in installments, or else by the 
payment annually of a reasonable tax. 

For the payment whereof, the land assigned to each shall be mortgaged to the City, and no 
one shall be allowed to leave the country except on payment of what he had received. 

That the aforesaid expenses of transportation may be provisionally somewhat diminished 
in case it could be resolved to charter the ships hence thither, and on arriving there, to set 
them up for freight and loading, with which they might return here. 

Secondly. Concerning the improvement of the Company in general. 

Divers points on that subject were, in the year 1654, submitted to the Supreme Government 
of this country, copy whereof is hereunto annexed, to the end that your Honors may see how 
far existing circumstances will permit the undertaking of the one or the other. 

That in addition to the abovementioned points, the reduction of the Island of St. James is 
highly important; this can be accomplished with a very small force; such is also proper, 
in order to bring the entire Coast of Guinea, again, under this City. 

It would be equally advantageous that the Company be relieved of the Train bands which 
have served with the Military in Brasil, and consequently that orders be issued that the one 
and the other be paid by the country. 

Finally and lastly, that the respite provisionally allowed by the State until the eighth day 
of their Great Mightinesses' present term, may be continued for some time, as otherwise the 
Directors would be put to such inconvenience in their administration, that they, in the long 
run, cannot resist. 

Points drawn up by the Assembly of the XIX., to be submitted to the Supreme 
Government of this country. [1654.] 

Tolland Document,, *■ As the Kin g of Portugal hath, by the unjust seizure of the countries of 
sv., 199. Brazil, not only seriously diminished your High Mightinesses' glory and respect, 

but even inflicted on your inhabitants great and incalculable damage, your High Mightinesses 
are again requested to consider of the means whereby said King could be brought to reason, 
and especially to examine what satisfaction he ought to give the Company. 

2. In like manner, as the State is in arrears to the aforesaid Company, a considerable sum 
of money in the matter aforesaid in unpaid subsidies, and that the said Company hath, on the 
other hand, incurred great debts in consequence, your High Mightinesses are, therefore, 



614 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

requested to issue orders that the account may once for all be liquidated, satisfied and paid 
on moderate terms. 

3. Thirdly, your High Mightinesses are requested to alter the ordinary letters of reprisal 
according to the circumstances of the times, and to the actual condition of affairs, in the form 
thereof drawn up. 

4. Finally, your High Mightinesses are requested to grant or allow to the Company, 
provisionally or until its circumstances shall he improved, the import duty on all sugars and 
other products which shall he brought hither by another route from Brasil, in regard that they 
are products of the Company's district, and the Board of Admiralty ought not to derive any 
profit from the misfortune that hath overtaken the Company there. 



Resolution of the Common Council of the City of Amsterdam. 

[From the Ite«olvtien van de Vroedschappm, A., p. 7G, in Ibe Stad Iluyn, Amsterdam. ] 

3 d March, 1656. 
The Burgomasters have also further represented, that the Committee appointed 

Holland Documcnls, ° « ' r 

xv., a. an( j re q U ested on the 12 th of February last, to consider what should be done for 

the promotion of the affairs in New Netherland, had first consulted thereupon with some 
Directors of the West India Company only, and secondly with them in presence of their 
Honors, who request, as some of the committee must leave the city and as their Honors had full 
knowledge of the matter, to report thereon in their name, and the Burgomasters have 
therefore reported : 

That, in brief, it had been proposed and as it were concluded in the Conference, that in 
case people enough were sent from this country thither, all the products that come at present 
from the Baltic, masts inclusive, could be found and raised in New Netherland. 

That all the lands the Company possess there had been purchased from the Indians or 
Inhabitants, under proper and voluntary conveyance executed before the Supreme Magistrates 
there, according to the Deeds thereof remaining with them, so that they owned those lands 
juslo titulo, both as regards the aforesaid Indians and all other circumjacent Europeans. 

That, also, the administration of New Netherland, as far as the possessions of the West India 
Company and the alienation thereof are concerned, was, with the knowledge and approbation 
of their High Mightinesses, fully and specially assigned, to wit, by the Assembly of the 19, to 
the Chamber at Amsterdam, which might properly resolve to sell a parcel of land to the City. 

The Council having heard the aforesaid report and judging it highly expedient to promote 
the trade in New Netherland, in the present conjuncture, in order not to be always dependent 
exclusively on the Baltic, authorizes the Burgomasters and Treasurers to negotiate with the 
To buy some lan.i said Directors of this Chamber for the purchase of a certain tract of Land in New 
in New Ncmeriand. Netherland whereof the Company is lawfully possessed titulo emptionis, and the 
agreement respecting the same being made, to bring it into this Assembly; further, to dispose 
thereof, and to appoint Commissioners from themselves, to manage and to improve that country 
with requisite Colonies and whatever is demanded for the encouragement of commerce. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS : VIII. 615 

Resolution of the Amsterdam Chamber of the West India Company. 

[ From the Bundle endorsed Verecheide Stukken rakende de Colonic van Nieuw Kederlandt, No. 5 ; in the SUid Buys, Amsterdam. ] 

Thursday, lG ,h March, 1656 

Hoiinnd Documents Mess" Man, Wilmerdoncx and Van Beeck having made a report at length of the 
XN " 191, further conference they have had yesterday afternoon, pursuant to the resolution of 

the 21 st February last, with three of the Right Worshipful Burgomasters at present officiating, 
and Treasurers van der Pol and Dronckelaer, a Committee of the Council, respecting the 
circumstances of New Netherland, the title of this Chamber to that place, also the charges on 
the goods exported hence thither and imported thence here. Also, whereabouts would be the 
fittest places for the formation of Colonies ; And that their Right Worshipful had advised this 
Chamber to appoint a Committee with full power to negotiate with them all matters whatsoever 
relating to the circumstances of that District; after the question was put, the abovementioned 
gentlemen, with Mr. Pergens, are fully authorized to meet the said Right Worshipful 
Burgomasters and Treasurers this afternoon, when they appointed again to see them, and to 
agree with them upon such Conditions as they shall judge most advantageous for the peopling 
of New Netherland and this Chamber. 

Agrees with the Register aforesaid. In absence of the Advocate. 

(Signed) E. van Seventer. 



Ambassador Harold Appelboom to the /States General. 

[ From the Original in the Koyal Archives at the Hague ; File, Duitschland. ] 

The undersigned Resident Minister of Sweden finds himself, by special instructions, obliged 
to represent hereby to your High Mightinesses that the Commander in New Netherland for 
the West India Company of this country had, this last summer, attacked the Swedish 
Company occupying the South river of Florida most unexpectedly and with force of arms, 
seized on its forts, drove out the inhabitants, and thus wholly dispossessed the Swedish Company 
of its districts. "Pis true and beyond dispute that the said Swedish Company hath acquired 
the lands they occupied on the aforesaid South river optimo titulo juris and bought them from the 
Indians themselves as the right owners thereof, and accordingly have had peaceable possession 
of said lands for many years past, without the West India Company of this country having put 
forth, or even lawfully had any claim to it. Therefore, the aforesaid Resident does not doubt 
but that these hostilities will call forth your High Mightinesses' especial displeasure, and request 
hereby in a friendly manner in the name of his Royal Majesty, his most gracious Master, 1 
that your High Mightinesses will be pleased to issue such order for the redress of such indecent 
proceedings of the West India Company aforesaid, as equity, justice, mutual friendship between 
both Nations and the importance of the matter itself demand, and is expected from your 

'Charles Gustavus X. succeeded Queen Christina of Sweden, in June, 1651, and died 13th February, 1660, in the 38th 
year of his age. — Ed. 



GIG NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

profound wisdom, whereby the abovementioned Swedish Company may be indemnified. As 

for the rest, the aforesaid Resident wishes your High Mightinesses a fortunate and prosperous 

government. At the Hague the 22 March, Anno 1G5G. 

(Signed) H. Aitelboom. 



>-■ ■»..«. 



Resolution of the States General on the preceding Letter. 

[From the Register of West IuJia Affairs, 1052 — 1G63, tu the lioyal Archives at the Ilague. ] 

Wednesday, 22 d March, 165G. 
F0H020S. Read in the Assembly a certain Memorial of Mr. Appelboom, Resident from the 

Appeiboom. King of Sweden, complaining that the Commanders in New Netherland of 

the West India Company of this country had last summer attacked the Swedish Company 
inhabiting the South river of Florida, most unexpectedly and with force of arms, reduced their 
forts, expelled the inhabitants and wholly dispossessed the above named Swedish Company 
from its district; requesting, therefore, that prompt order may be issued for the redress of the 
aforesaid proceeding, and that the said Swedish Company may be indemnified. Which being 
considered, it is resolved and concluded to examine further the information on the same 
subject, heretofore sent in by the Directors of the West India Company of this country to their 
High Mightinesses, in order when such is examined, further resolution may be adopted in the 
matter aforesaid, as shall be deemed proper. 



Resolution of the States of Holland, d'C, on Mr. Appdhoovi's Memorial. 

Resolution of the States of Holland and Westfriesland, dated 23 and 24 ,b 
March, 1G56. 

Read in the Assembly, a certain Memorial presented to their High Mightinesses, by Mr. 
Appelboom, Resident of the King of Sweden, to the effect that he, the Resident aforesaid, 
found himself obliged by express command, to represent to their High Mightinesses, that the 
complaints from tne Commanders in New Netherland of the West India Company of this country 
8»CT|5nrTJrForu ' ia d. last summer, attacked unexpectedly and with force of arms the Swedish 
Company dwelling in the South river of Florida, seized its forts, expelled the 
inhabitants and thus wholly dispossessed the said Swedish Company of its districts ; requesting 
their High Mightinesses, for reasons set forth in the aforesaid Memorial, to be pleased to 
issue, lor the redress of such indecent proceedings of the aforesaid West India Company of 
this country, such prompt order as equity, justice and mutual friendship between both Nations 
aud the importance oi the matter itself, demand. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VIII. G17 

Which being considered, it is resolved and concluded that the aforesaid Memorial, together 
with certain ample information heretofore furnished by the said West India Company of this 
country on the foregoing subject, and the documents thereunto belonging, be further examined 
and investigated by a Committee of their Great Mightinesses and a draft of an answer to the 
aforesaid Memorial be by them prepared, and a report thereof, and of their opinions regarding 
the said subject, be made as soon as possible to the Asssembly here; to which end the 
gentlemen from Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Hoorn are requested and appointed, as they are 
hereby requested and commissioned. 



Subscription of the City of Amsterdam to the fund for the Waldenses. 

[ From Itae Qroot Memoriael, Part IV., p. 96 ; in the Stad ITuys, Amsterdam. ] 

Hn'i.n<i Documenu, The Burgomasters and Regents of the City of Amsterdam authorize Messrs. 
iv., m. ° ° J 

the Commissioners of the Exchange Bank, to pay to Mr. Johan Berkel, Receiver- 
Money ibr the Wai- General of Holland, the sum of Fifty Thousand Guilders, towards the fund collected 

denies. 

for the distressed Waldenses. Done March 29, 1G5G. 

By order of their Worships. 

(Signed) J. Corver. 



Council of Amsterdam to Director Stuyvesant. 

[ From the Qemetne Missiven, IV., in the Stad ITuys, Amsterdam. ] 

To the Governor and other officers of Justice in New Netherland, on the part of this State. 
27 April, 1656. 

noii. n d Document., Honorable, Wise, prudent, right discreet Gentlemen. 

XV,13S- Jan Gaillardo ferrara, a native of Saint Lucas of Barameda, a subject of his 

Royal Majesty of Spain, hath represented to us that he, some years ago, sued for the restitution 
of several slaves and other property, taken from him by a certain privateer and brought into 
New Netherland without his being able, up to this time, to procure satisfaction therefor, 
requesting our letters recommendatory thereunto ; wherefore we have consented to recommend 
the matter hereby to your Honors, to the end that you may render prompt and expeditious 
justice to the abovenamed Gaillardo. Which will insure our friendship, and we shall be 

always ready to reciprocate. 

Herewith, etc. 



Vol. I. 7S 



018 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Order in favor of the Waldenses. 

[ From the Groot Memoriae!, Part IV., 106 ; In the Stud Huyi, Amsterdam. ] 

HnNrndDooumenti, Burgomasters .and Regents of Amsterdam, hereby authorize the Commissioners 
M..n.y. sonsoM of the Exchange Bank in the said city, to give and pay to Mr. John van Berckel, 
fur iho waweu.es. j£ ece j ver _G enera i f Holland and West Friesland, the sum of seventeen thousand, 
five hundred and sixty-six guilders, eleven stivers and eight pence, say fl.l7,5G6:ll:S, which 
sum, on producing receipt therefor, shall be allowed said Commissioners in rendering their 
account of the moneys collected within this city for and on the behalf of the Waldenses. 
Done the 30 ,h June, 1656. 



Resolution of the Council of Amsterdam on a Plan to colonize New Netherland. 

[ From tho Resolution van de Vroedachappen, A., p. 113, io the Stad Huys, Amsterdam. ] 

4 July, 1656. 

Holland Documents, ^ certain draft of a plan for the encouragement of the trade in New Netherland, 

iirafire»r"-»ne"?« is referred to Messrs. van Polsbroeck, Witsen, Valckenier, van Hoorn and Burgh, 

trade of New Neth- ' ' ' ° ■ 



trade of New Net 
erland refi 
Committee. 



" for examination, and to report to the Council their opinion and advice. 



Resolution of the Council of Amsterdam on the Conditions for the Encouragement 

of Emigration to New Netherland. 

[From the Resolution van de Vroedschappen, A,, p. 121, in the Stad Iluyt, Amiterdam. ] 

s 

12 lh July, 1656. 
Holland Documents, fhe Committee appointed on the 4 th July of this year, from the body of this 
Dran of an a e roe- Council, to examine the Conditions to be agreed upon between this City and the 

ment between this 

city and ihe w.st \Vest India Company respecting Trade and Colonies in New Netherland, and to 

India Company, re- r J r © 

c^ion^s 'i r n' e Ne n w look into a certain draft connected therewith, caused the said draft prepared by 
them and enregistered in the Muniment Register, B., f° 118, et seq. to be read in 
Council. Which being considered, the gentlemen of the Committee are thanked for their 
trouble, and the draft thus prepared is approved. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VIII. 



619 



Draft of Conditions offered by the City of Amsterdam to Emigrants to New Netlierland. 



HoIIbfi'I Documents, 
XVI., SO. 



[ From the Bundle endorsed VertchtM* Stukkm rakende de Cblonie van A'ieuw Nederlandt, No. SO, in the Stad ITuyi, Amsterdam. ] 

Draft of Conditions to be Remarks of the Directors of the West 

offered to those who may India Company on the opposite Draft 

be sent as Colonists to of Conditions. 
New Netherland. 

1. 1. 

That the Colonists should go thither in Fiat. Provided it be in ships that sail with 

suitable ships with their families, requisite the Company's permit, 
household furniture and additional necessaries. 



The City of Amsterdam may make the best 
bargain it can with the skippers for the trans- 
portation of both people and goods. 



Fiat. 



Said City is to advance the passage money 
on condition that it be hereafter repaid to the 
City in manner hereinafter mentioned. 



Fiat. 



To the end that the said Colonists may gain 
their livelihood there safely, honestly and 
prosperously, the City aforesaid doth before- 
hand guarantee as follows : 



Fiat. 



5. 

First. Said City shall provide and assign a 
fruitful soil in a healthy and temperate climate, 
watered by and situated on a fresh water river, 
which can be navigated by large ships. 



Fiat. Provided it be not any place or lands 
still belonging to the Indians or natives, which 
if selected, the fact shall be made known to 
the Director and Council there, in order that 
the lands may be received from their hands, 
after the Indians are satisfied. 



Here the City shall lay out a proper piece 
of land on a river side for a safe habitation 
and residence of the Colonists, and fortify it 
with a ditch without and a wall within ; and 
divide the inclosed land into streets, a market 
and lots suitable for the use as well of traders 
and mechanics as of farmers, and all this at 
the expense of the City. 



Fiat. 



620 



NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 



Fiat. 



8. 



Fiat. 



Said City shall cause to be erected about the 
Market or in a more convenient place, a public 
building suitable for Divine service; item, 
also a house for a School which can likewise be 
occupied by the person who will hereafter 
be Sexton, Psalmsetter and Schoolmaster; 
the City shall, besides have a house built for the 
Minister. 

8. 
The City aforesaid shall provisionally pro- 
vide and pay the salary of a Minister and 
Schoolmaster, unless their High Mightinesses 
or the Company think otherwise. 

9. 
The City of Amsterdam shall cause to be 
erected at the place aforesaid, a large magazine 
or warehouse, wherein it shall keep all sorts of 
articles both for clothing and the subsistence 
of the people and supply them with seed grain. 
I shall likewise keep a Factor there, who shall 
furnish everything necessary for clothing, 
housekeeping and farming, and sell these, at 
the same prices they are sold here, the Com- 
pany's custom excepted. 

10. 

Concerning the Company's custom, the City Fiat ExceDt th« JT 
shall agree therefor as favorably as possible' the CmpZ there C lu^ ^ ^ 
and especially that the duty to be paid in New vided it €7 , , P eS ' a " d P ro " 

Netheiland shal, be employed in building Z pled t " bv'ttc" 80 " " S ° VerDment 
maintaining public works. Ppoiniea there by the Company. 

1L II. 

The said fortified place allotted for the Fht wm. ,u- jj- ■ 

residence of the Colonists, whether called J^t^T^ ^ 1 "*"* '° 

cty or town shall be regulated in matters of A„s d oJ 'and* Rustic T V™ ° f 

P^or.usnce.n the same manner as here in custom ofthe &%£&*** Md 

property „* revert to the scree from whence it J " ZJr I W ■ * f° " ^f^"'" ° f the •*»»* "«* 
a.,o Van Umm* Oo^nerUarie, on ike R„ nan J> J, Z.. p " 288 £ £V H 7 "' "" *** "' // "" < "'"' "»■ S " 
incidents. - Ei>. ' pp - 288 ' 297 ' { ™ a fu » explanation of the Aatdom-rtght and its 



The City of Amsterdam might provide the 
Colonists here, before their departure, with 
clothing and other subsistence for a year • 
and further have built at the place aforesaid a 
magazine or warehouse wherein it will keep 
every sort of article necessary for agriculture, 
together with all sorts of seed grain, to be sold 
by its factor there at the price aforesaid. 



10. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VIII. 



621 



13. 
He shall be appointed by the West India 



12. 12. 

They shall first have one Schout or officer Fiat, 
as the head of Justice, instructed as is the 
custom here. 

13. 
Who shall be appointed by the Deputies of 
the City of Amsterdam or by the West India Company in the name of their High Mighti- 
Company in the name of their High Mighti- nesses. 
nesses. 

14. 14. 

There shall be three Burgomasters to be Fiat, 
appointed by the common Burghers, from the 
honestest and fittest. 



15. 

And 5 or 7 Schepens to be chosen by the 
Burghers, or else a double number to be 
named, in order that the selection be made 
therefrom by the Commissioners of the City 
of Amsterdam. 

16. 

The City or town being increased to 200 
families or upwards, they shall choose a 
Common Council of 21 persons, who shall 
meet with the Burgomasters and Schepens 
and resolve together on all matters relating to 
the City government. 

17. 

The Schepens shall give judgments for all 
gums under one hundred guilders, but in cases 
exceeding 100 Gl. the party aggrieved shall be 
allowed an appeal to the President and court 
of Justice of New Netherland. 

IS. 

Said Schepens shall also pronounce sentence 
in all criminal cases, but an appeal therefrom 
shall be provisionally allowed. 

19. 
The City of Amsterdam shall, also, pro- 
visionally cause to be built 3 houses or resi- 
dences; namely, 1 for a smith, 1 for a wheel- 
wright and one house for a carpenter. 



15. 

And a double number to bo named by the 
Burghers for 5 or 7 Schepens, in order that 
the selection be made therefrom by the Director 
General and Council. 

16. 
Fiat. With this addition : Which Common 
Council shall, also, have the absolute election 
of Burgomasters and Common Councilmen, 
together with the nomination of Schepens, in 
order that the selection as above may be made 
therefrom. 

17. 
Fiat. To the Director-General and Council 
of New Netherland. 



18. 



Fiat. 



19. 



Fiat. 



622 



NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 



20. 20. 
The City of Amsterdam aforesaid shall Fiat. 

divide all the lands round about said town or 
city into suitable fields for plough land, pasture 
and meadow land, laid out on proper roads for 
going to, and coming from, them. 

21. 21 

Every person who will follow farming shall Fiat, 
have in free, fast and durable property, as many 
morgans as well of plough land as of pasture and 
meadow, as he and his family will be able to 
improve and will require for grazing, be it 
twenty, thirty or more morgens, provided all 
such lands, which will be given and conveyed in 
fee to each of the Colonists, shall by them 
in two years from the conveyance, be brought 
under cultivation, on penalty of the same being 
taken from them and given to others. 

22. 22. 

Each of the Colonists shall settle and use his The Colonists shall, like others in that 
land freely, without paying poundage, horn country, settle and use their land freely and 
money, or salt tax ; and be exempt from tenths be exempt from 10 ,k for the term of fifteen 
for 20 years, to be counted from the year in years, to be counted with the year that the 
which the land is first sown. lands shall have been first sowed, after the ex- 

piration of which time, the Company shall 
receive half the 10 ,h *. 

23. 23. 

The City of Amsterdam shall make arrange- Fiat. Provided such ships shall go agreeably 
ments that ships shall be continually and to the annexed regulation, enacted by the 
consecutively sent from Holland to load and Company in the premises, 
bring over the grain, seed, timber and all sorts 
of produce most profitable to the Colonists, who 
shall, also, be at liberty to charter private 
vessels, provided such be consigned to the 
City of Amsterdam. 



24. 

For which purpose the City of Amsterdam 
shall have proper storehouses here, for the 
storage of the grain and other property of 
the Colonists, which shall be sold for the benefit 
of the same ; and shall return the proceeds 
thereof in such articles as the owners shall 



24. 



Fiat. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VIII. 



623 



direct, deducting therefrom only two per cent 
for commission and one-tenth of the net pro- 
ceeds in payment of the disbursements made 
by the said City for the freight and passage of 
the persons and goods of the Colonists ; and 
that until the aforesaid disbursements are 
refunded and no longer. 

25. 

The Colonists in New Netherland shall be at 
liberty to take out of the City's warehouse 
whatever they may require at the fixed price ; 
provided the account thereof be transmitted 
with the Colonists' goods, in order to be 
deducted therefrom. 



25. 

The Colonists in New Netherland requiring 
anything for the culture of the land or the 
support of their bodies, shall, etc. 



26. 26. 

The Colonists shall, for building houses, Fiat Provided it be done agreeably to the 

vessels and for other purposes, be at liberty to order and regulations made or to be made 

cut down in the nearest and most convenient thereon by the Director-General and Councl. 
forests, as much timber as they shall require, 
without paying anything for it. 



27. 



27. 



The Burgomasters as founders, patroons and 
possessors of the Jurisdiction, shall appoint the 
Secretary, Messenger and other inferior officers. 



Fiat. 



28. 



2S. 



Hunting in the woods and fishing in the Fiat. Under certain regulations made or to 
waters and rivers, &c, not heretofore owned be made by the Director-General and Council, 
by other persons, shall be free to each of the 
Colonists, under certain regulations to be made 
respecting them, under the authority of the 
Company, or their High Mightinesses. 



29. 



29. 



The City of Amsterdam shall provide for 
the transportation of all tools and farming 
implements free and without paying any duty. 



Fiat. Free of duty. 



30. 



30. 



And in regard to articles which go as mer- And in regard to articles which go as mer- 
chandise, an agreement and firm regulation chandise, they shall pay such duty as is speci- 
respecting them shall be made with the fied in the annexed list. 
Company. 



624 NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Conditions to be agreed upon with 
the West India Company. 

1. 1. 

The West India Company shall approve, Fiat, 
and, as far as lies in its power, give effect to 
the accompanying agreement, basis and regu- 
lation on which the City of Amsterdam is to 
plant Colonies in New Netherland. 

2. 2. 

A firm regulation should be made respecting All fruits and products raised there and 
the duty on their own products sent over by the cultivated by the Colonists shall be free of duty 
Colonists. and on coming here pay only the convoy to 

the Company. , 

3. 3. 

Their High Mightinesses or the Company Fiat, 
should cede and grant to the City of Amster- 
dam as founders and planters of the place, 
high, middle and low jurisdiction, in order the 
better to maintain the requisite authority 
among their people. 

4. 4. 

The City shall possess the jurisdiction afore- Fiat. 
said in form of a Fief, successively appoint- 
ing to that end, a person on whom the Fief 
shall be conferred on payment of certain 
Seignorial dues. (Heer gcwuden.) 

5. 6. 

The Sovereignty and supreme authority, or Fiat. 
whatever else depends thereon, remaining, 
nevertheless, in their High Mightinesses or the 
Company so far as it is authorized by the 
Charter. 

And as the government of Amsterdam hath 
no intention to extend any authority or 
power abroad, but merely designs to promote 
commerce, which is the life of this City, so 
will it be content to make over and convey 
everything to the Company aforesaid, in case 
their High Mightinesses or the Company afore- 
said be inclined to reimburse, within the first 
ten years, to the City of Amsterdam, the 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VIII. 



625 



moneys disbursed, with simple interest at 5 
per cent yearly, on condition that the said 
Company, in such case, remain bound to make 
good to the Colonists the Agreement heretofore 
drawn up and hereunto annexed. 

Amplification. 

Any of the Colonists who by himself or his 
family or any person in his service, shall 
discover any minerals, crystals, precious stones, 
marble, &c, of whatever nature soever the 
same may be, may possess and keep them as 
his own, without paying any imposition or duty 
for them, for the term of ten years; but after 
the expiration thereof, he shall be bound to 
pay the Company one-tenth of their proceeds. 

[Here follows a Tariff of Duties, which is omitted, as it is a Duplicate of the Table printed, post, p. 634.] 



Form of Permit to sail to New Netherland. 

[From the Bundle endorsed Verscheide Stukktn rakffnde de CoUrnie van Nieuw Kederlandt*, No. 29 ; in the Stad Iluys, Amsterdam. ] 

_ „ A „ . The Directors of the West India Company at the Chamber here in Amsterdam 

Holland Documents, r ^ 

xvi., 48. have allowed and agreed, as they hereby allow and agree that . . • . . . 

Skipper of the ship .... may make a voyage with said ship under his command to 
New Netherland within the limits of the Company's charter, on condition and terms made and 
entered into with the aforesaid skipper in manner as follows, to wit: That he shall be bound 
to bring all his goods and merchandise to be carried by him, (before he takes them into 
the ship aforesaid) into the said Company's warehouse here to be inspected, marked with 
Company's mark, and to be paid thereon to the Company, prompt, sixteen per cent on the 
Indian goods such as duffels and blankets, and ten per cent on all other goods and 
merchandise, all according to the true value thereof, exclusive of the licenses and convoys; 
that he, after fulfilling hereof and sailing from Texel, before he can touch at any place, shall 
be obliged to come with his ship to the roadstead before Fort New Amsterdam, on the Island 
of Manhattans, in order, after delivery of our letters and exhibition of his commission to the 
Director there, that the aforesaid ship may be discharged and all the goods and merchandise 
on board may be brought out of her into the Company's warehouses at said place, when the 
aforesaid Skipper or Factor shall be free again to remove them in order to sell them within 
the district of New Netherland, New England and Virginia and to do with them as he shall 
deem good and proper, according to the invoice or bill of lading here. Further, that be shall be 
Vol. I. 79 



626 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

bound to come back with his said ship and the full return of the aforesaid exported goods and 
merchandise, or should any part of said return be left behind, he shall be bound to have it 
brought to this country to the place he sailed from, in order that it be all discharged and 
brought into the aforesaid Company's warehouses here, and to pay thereon to the Company 
aforesaid eight per cent in kind or ad valorem, at the choice of the Company, and that in like 
manner exclusive of the permits and convoy hereinbefore mentioned, and the state duty of 
'our stivers imposed on each beaver. And as regards the Tobacco which the aforesaid Skipper 
may have traded, or received as freight, in New Netherland, English Virginias, New England 
or elsewhere, it is expressly stipulated and by him agreed to pay thereof here to the Company 
30 stivers per hundred pound of Virginia, and 20 stivers for the New Netherland, tobacco ; The 
Skipper, moreover, must take on board as many Soldiers, Free persons, men, women and children 
as he can conveniently accommodate in his aforesaid ship and as the Company shall order, whom 
he shall provide with meat and drink and serve up the same according to the Company's Tariff 
of Rations, on condition of paying for each head, to wit : For the soldiers, thirty-six guilders 
and for the free persons forty guilders, those under ten years, half that rate, and children at 
the breast, nothing ; without his being at liberty to convey any person either from here 
thither, or from there here, without obtaining therefor a special permit signed by the Directors, 
or the Governor in New Netherland under a penalty of fifty guilders for each person he shall 
have conveyed from here thither, and six hundred guilders for whomsoever he may bring 
thence here without special consent. And he, the Skipper, shall be, further, bound to take a 
supercargo on board his ship, on the Company's wages, whose board and lodging in the cabin 
shall be at the Skipper's expense ; all under forfeiture of the ship, tackle, and the freighted 
and traded goods or the value thereof, in case the Skipper or any of his people shall be found 
to have contravened these presents. He, the Skipper, consenting under his own hand-signature 
hereunto affixed, to subject himself to all courts and judges. All agreed and undertaken 
rightfully and in good faith, in Amsterdam, the 



Resolution of the States General, on an Agreement between the West India Company 

and the City of Amsterdam. 

[ From the Register of West India Affairs, 1052 — 1668, In the Koyal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Tuesday, 1 August, 165G. 
Folio 219. Read at the meeting the petition of the Directors of the West India Company, 

Chamber at Amsterdam, requesting the approval of a certain agreement concluded between 
Hew Netherland. them and the Burgomasters of the City of Amsterdam abovenamed, for the 
nies. ' * planting of Colonies in New Netherland. Which being considered, it is resolved 

and concluded that the aforesaid petition and the documents thereunto belonging, shall be 
transmitted to the Assembly of the Half-Nineteen, met at Amsterdam, for information and 
advice. The aforesaid Petition shall, however, without prejudice to it, be placed in the hands 
of Mess" Van der Capelle to Ryssel and the other, their High Mightinesses' Deputies for the 
affairs of the said West India Company, to inspect, examine and report thereupon. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VIII. 027 

States General to the West India Company. 

I From the Register of Utigtgane Uneven of the States General, in the Koyal Archives at tho Hague. ] 

To the Assembly of the Half-Nineteen, at Amsterdam. 

The States, etc. 
Foiio is». Honorable, etc. We transmit, herewith, the accompanying petition of the 

wen India [com- Directors of the West India Company, Chamber at Amsterdam, togther with 

pany] Chamber at r j • > e 

Amsterdam. th e Papers tliereunto belonging, requesting and requiring you to communicate to 

us your information and advice as soon as possible. Whereunto relying, etc. 
Done first August, 1656. 



Chamber at Amsterdam to the States General. 

[ From the Original in the Royal Archives at the Hague ; File, West Indie. ] 

High and Mighty Lords. 

We have been unexpectedly informed by our brother, Mr. Abraham Wilmerdonx, that your 
High Mightinesses have been pleased to send to the Assembly of the Deputies from the respective 
Chambers in the City of Amsterdam the petition and appendices presented to your High 
Mightinesses by this Chamber for the approval and ratification of some Colonies to be planted 
in New Netherland by the Worshipful Burgomasters of Amsterdam, which are immediately 
and extremely necessary for the augmentation of the population and the maintenance and 
security of those countries, in order that said Assembly may communicate to your High 
Mightinesses, without delay, its information and advice; notwithstanding that place hath been 
many years under the particular disposition of the Amsterdam Chamber, and by numerous 
resolutions of the Assembly of the XIX., is left to that Chamber; so that your High 
Mightinesses made not the least objection in the year 1651, to grant similar approbation 
and ratification to Mr. Cornelis van Werckhoven, late Councillor in the Common Council and 
ancient Schepen of Utrecht, deceased, who at that time obtained his Colonie only from this 
Chamber; besides 'tis still the practice that the respective Chambers, each in their particular, 
but for the common interest, may grant Colonies in places generally at the disposal of the 
respective Chambers, as fully appears by the granting of the Colonie at Tobago last year, by 
the Zealand Chamber to Mess" Lampsoens, which obtained your High Mightinesses' approbation 
without the least objection. Wherefore we shall most humbly request your High Mightinesses 
to accommodate this Chamber with the approval of the aforesaid Colonies also, for the 
postponement thereof can only enure to the greatest inconvenience of the Company and of 
the inhabitants of New Netherland, who with heart and soul are longing for such and similar 
augmentation and increase of people for their relief. Wherewith 



628 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

High and Mighty Lords, we shall pray God Almighty for the continual welfare of your 
High Mightinesses' prosperous government and remain 

Your High Mightinesses' humble servants, 

The Directors of the West India Company Chamber at Amsterdam. 
Amsterdam, the 7 August, j (Signed) Isaack van Beeck. 

Received 10 ,h August, j " Paulus Timmerman. 

The address was as follows : 

High and Mighty Lords the States General of the United Netherlands 
at the Hague. 



Resolution of the States General on the preceding Letter. 

[From the Register of West India Affairs, 1652 — 1663, in the Royal Archives at the Hague.] 

Thursday, the 10 th August, 1G56. 
F0110220. Received a letter from the Directors of the West India Company, Chamber at 

Population of coio- Amsterdam, requesting approval of the contract concluded by them with the 
Burgomasters there, for the peopling of some Colonies in New Netherland ; 
New Netherlands which being considered, it is resolved and concluded, that the Assembly of the 
Nineteen at present met at Amsterdam, be again written to, that they without delay, yea, 
within S days after the receipt of the letter, shall communicate to their High Mightinesses 
their information and advice on the Petition of said Directors respecting the subject aforesaid, 
transmitted some days since to them. The aforesaid letter shall, without prejudice, be placed 
in the hands of Mess" Van der Capelle to Ryssel, and the other their High Mightinesses' 
Deputies for the affairs of the said West India Company, for inspection, examination and report. 



States General to the Assembly of the XIX. 

[ From the Register of Uitgegane Brieten of the States General, in the Royal Archives at the Hagne. ] 

To the Assembly of the XIX., convened at Amsterdam. 

The States, etc. 
Foiio ui. Honorable, etc. We have resolved again to request and require your Honors, 

hereby, to transmit to us on the earliest day; yea, within eight days after the receipt hereof, 
your information and advice on the petition presented to us, some days ago, in the name and 
on the behalf of the Directors of the West India Company, Chamber at Amsterdam, on the 
I'oputnti n or some subject of a certain contract concluded with the Burgomasters of that city, for 

Cnlnniea in New • a J • 

N.therund. the population of some Colonies in New Netherland, which we at the time 

resolved to transmit to you with the letter inclosed. Wherewith ending etc. Done 10 th 
August, 1656. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VIII. 629 

Assembly of the XIX. of the West Indix Company to the States General. 

I From the Original in the Royal Archives at the Hague; File, West Indie. ] 

High and Mighty Lords. 

Your Lordship's despatch of the 1st instant with the annexed petition and papers, presented 
to your High Mightinesses by the presiding Chamber of Amsterdam, to obtain your High 
Mightinesses' approval and ratification of the Conditions agreed upon by said Chamber 
with the Right Worshipful Burgomasters of the City of Amsterdam, for founding of Colonies 
in New Netherland, was handed to us in due course, and read to our Assembly, and we have 
therein seen your High Mightinesses' request and requisition, to communicate to your Hi<*h 
Mightinesses thereupon our information and advice, which we cannot neglect to send 
forthwith, together with our rescript, that we, after perusal and examination of said Conditions, 
cannot judge or find the establishment of such Colonies on this footing and conditions to be 
otherwise than in the highest degree profitable and advantageous for the Company ; wherefore, 
we, also, most humbly request your High Mightinesses to be pleased to approve and ratify said 
Conditions (which are again transmitted herewith), agreeably to the previous petition of the 
Amsterdam Chamber, so that a commencement of that laudable work may be made before 
the winter, by the City of Amsterdam, for which the inhabitants of New Netherland, who 
will be encouraged thereby, are longing with heart and soul, particularly at this present 
season of difficulty. Expecting which, we shall pray Almighty God, High and Mighty Lords, 
for the continued welfare of your High Mightinesses' prosperous Government, and remain 
Your High Mightinesses' humble Servants, 

The Committee of the respective Chambers of the West India Company, 

Representing the Assembly of the XIX. in Amsterdam. 
(Signed) D. Bante. 

Eduard Man. 

isaack van beeck. 

N. Ten Hove. 

Amsterdam, the 10 th August, ) Jan van Loosen. 

' 1656. 



} 



Received 12 August, j ' ' Gerhart Swartte. 



Agreement between the West India Company and the City of Amsterdam respecting 

a Colonie on the Delaware River. 

Conditions to be agreed upon with the West India Company. Received 12 
August, 1656. 

1. 
The West India Company shall approve, and as far as lies in its power, give effect to, the 
accompanying Agreement, basis and regulation on which the City of Amsterdam is to plant 
Colonies in New Netherland. 



G30 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

2. 

Their High Mightinesses and the Company are to cede and grant to the City of Amsterdam, 
as founder and planters of the place, high, middle and low jurisdiction, in order the better to 
maintain the requisite authority there. 

3. 

The City shall possess the jurisdiction aforesaid, in form of a fief, successively appointing 
to that end a person ou whom it shall be conferred, on payment of certain seignorial 
dues. (Heergewadm.) 

4. 

The sovereignty and supreme authority, with whatever depends thereupon, remaining, 
nevertheless, in their High Mightinesses and in the Company, so far as the same is authorized 
by the Charter. 

5. 

And whilst the government of Amsterdam hath no intention to extend any authority or 
power abroad, but merely designs to promote commerce, which is the soul of this city, so it 
will he content to make over and convey everything to the Company aforesaid, in case their 
High Mightinesses and the Company aforesaid be inclined to reimburse, within the first ten 
years, to the City of Amsterdam, the moneys disbursed with simple interest at 5 per cent 
yearly, on condition that the said Company, in such case, remain bound to make good to the 
Colonists the Agreement heretofore drawn up and hereunto annexed. 



Conditions offered by tlie City of Amsterdam to Settlers on the Delaware River. 

Draft of Conditions to be offered to those who may be sent as Colonists to 
New Netherland. Received 12 August, 1G56. 



The Colonists should go thither in suitable ships with their families, requisite household 
furniture and additional necessaries ; for which purpose license shall be applied for and obtained 
from the Amsterdam Chamber of the West India Company. 

2. 
The City of Amsterdam may make the best agreement it can with the skippers for the 
transportation of both people and goods. 

3. 
Said City is to advance the passage money, on condition that it be hereafter repaid to the 
City in manner hereinafter mentioned. 

4. 

To the end that the said Colonists may gain their livelihood there safely, honestly and 
prosperously, the City aforesaid doth beforehand guarantee as follows: 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VIII. 631 

5. 

First. Said City shall provide and assign a fruitful soil in a healthy and temperate climate, 
watered by and situated upon a fresh water river which can be navigated by large ships; for 
which purpose an agreement shall be previously made with the West India Company for a 
place at its disposal and to which no other persons have any claim. 

6. 

Here the City shall lay out a proper piece of land on a river side for a safe habitation and 
residence of the Colonists, and fortify it with a ditch without and a wall within ; and divide 
the inclosed land into streets, a market, and lots suitable for the use as well of traders and 
mechanics as of farmers; and all this at the expense of the City. 

7. 

The City of Amsterdam shall send thither a proper person for Schoolmaster, who shall also 
read the Holy Scriptures and set the Psalms. 

8. 
The City of Amsterdam shall provisionally and until further opportunity provide the salary 
of said Schoolmaster. 

9. 

And to the end that the Colonists going thither, may be provided with all proper necessaries, 
as far as possible, the City of Amsterdam shall furnish them for one year with clothing and 
all sorts of seed grain ; and, moreover, shall build, in the place aforesaid, a large magazine or 
warehouse, wherein it shall keep all sorts of articles, both for clothing and the subsistence of 
the people and supply them with all sorts of seed grain ; it shall, likewise, keep a factor there, 
who shall furnish everything necessary for clothing, housekeeping and farming, and sell these 
at the same prices they are sold here, the Company's custom excepted. 

10. 

Concerning the Company's custom, the City shall agree therefor as favorably as possible 
and especially that the duty to be paid in New Netherland, shall be employed in building and 
maintaining public works by those thereunto to be authorized by the West India Company 
and the City. 

11. 

The said fortified place allotted for the residence of the Colonists, whether called a city or 
town, shall be regulated in matters of Police and the administration of justice in the same 
manner as here in Amsterdam, whereof the practice and custom, particularly in regard to 
descents, shall be adhered to. 

12. 

They shall first have one Schout or officer as the head of Justice, instructed as is the 
custom here. 

13. 

The Schout shall be appointed in the name of their High Mightinesses and the West India 
Company, by the Deputies of Amsterdam, who, for this purpose shall give authority to the 
Director by a power of attorney. 



G32 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

14. 

They shall, moreover, have three Burgomasters, who shall be appointed by the common 
Burghers, from the honestest, fittest and richest. 

15. 
And five or seven Schepens, to which end the body of the Burghers shall nominate a double 
number, in order that the Director, by power of attorney, as mentioned in Article 13, may 
make an election from them. 

1G. 
On the increase of the city or town to two hundred families or upwards, these shall 
choose a Common Council of XXI. persons, who shall meet with the Burgomasters, and 
resolve together on all matters relating to the City government ; but this Common Council, 
once instituted, shall thereafter have power, in case of the death of one or more of its 
members, to fill vacancies by a new election, unanimously, or by plurality of votes; in like 
manner the said Common Council shall annually choose the Burgomasters in manner as 
aforesaid, and also have the nomination of a double number out of which the Schepens shall 
be chosen in manner as already mentioned. 

17. 
The Schepens shall give judgments for all sums under one hundred guilders; but in cases 
exceeding one hundred guilders, the party aggrieved shall be allowed an appeal to the 
Director-General and Council of New Netherland. 

IS. 
Said Schepens shall also pronounce sentence in all criminal cases, but an appeal therefrom 
shall be provisionally allowed. 

19. 

The City of Amsterdam^shall agree with a smith, a wheelwright and a carpenter to go and 
live there for the convenience and service of the Colonists. 

20. 

The City of Amsterdam aforesaid, shall divide all the lands round about said town or city, 
into suitable fields for plough land, pasture and meadow land, laid out on proper roads for 
going to, and coming from, them. 

21. 

Every person who will follow farming shall have in free, fast and durable property, as many 
morgens, as well of plough land as of pasture and meadow, as he and his family will be 
able to improve, and will require for grazing, be it 20 (ai 30 or more morgens; provided all 
such lands which will be given and conveyed in fee to each of the Colonists, shall by them 
in two years from the conveyance, be brought under cultivation, on penalty of the same being 
taken from them and given to others. 

22. 

Each of the Colonists shall settle and use his land freely, without paying poundage, horn 
money or salt money, for ten years, reckoning from the year in which the land is first sown or 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VIII. (383 

pastured ; which ten years being expired, they shall not be taxed higher than those who are 
taxed lowest in any other district under the government of the Directors of the West India 
Company, in New Netherland. They shall, also, be exempt from tenths for the term of twenty 
years, reckoning from the year in which the lands will be first sown ; and on the expiration of 
said 20 years, the tenths shall then be paid to the City of Amsterdam ; with the understanding 
always, that half of these tenths shall be expended for the support of the public works and of 
the persons employed in the public service there. In like manner, also, whenever any 
poundage or other taxes shall be paid, the money shall be employed in constructing public 
works and keeping them in repair, and in defraying the salaries of persons in service in 
that country. 

23. 
The City of Amsterdam shall make arrangements that ships shall be continually and 
consecutively sent from Holland to load and bring over grain, seed, timber, and all other 
produce most profitable to the Colonists, who shall, in like manner, be at liberty to charter 
private vessels, provided they be consigned to the City of Amsterdam. 

24. 

Wherefore, the City of Amsterdam shall have proper storehouses here for the storage of the 
grain and other property of the Colonists, to be sold for the benefit of the same, and shall return 
the proceeds thereof in such articles as the owners shall direct, deducting only two per cent for 
commission, and one-tenth of the net proceeds in payment of the disbursements made by the 
said City for the freight and passage of the persons and goods of the Colonists; and that until 
the aforesaid disbursements are refunded and no longer. 

25. 
The Colonists in New Netherland shall be at liberty to take out of the City's warehouse 
whatever they may require, at the fixed price, provided the account thereof be transmitted 
with the Colonists' goods, in order to be deducted therefrom. 

2G. 

The Colonists may, for building houses and vessels and carrying on trade, cut as much 
timber as they think fit, without paying anything therefor, not only in the nearest and most 
convenient forests, but also in any other places situate in the district, and under the jurisdiction 
of the Company in New Netherland, and not already granted to and owned by any private 
person, provided they submit to the regulation in that behalf made, or hereafter to be made, 
as in Article 28. 

27. 

The Burgomasters of Amsterdam as founders and Patroons, and as possessors of the 
jurisdiction, shall appoint the secretary, messenger, and other inferior officers. 

23. 

Hunting in the woods and fishing in all the waters and rivers, not heretofore owned by 
other persons, shall be free to each of the Colonists, under certain regulations to be made 
respecting them, by authority of the Company or their High Mightinesses. 

Vol. I. SO 



634 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

* 29. 

The City of Amsterdam shall provide for the transportation of all tools and farming 
implements, free and without paying any duty. 

30. 

And in regard to articles which are sent as merchandise, they shall pay to the Directors of 
the West India Company, as duty, according to the speciGcation in the subjoined 



Table. 

For 100 guilders Duffels 2* pieces,. j Conv0 ^ 8 8tivers each with * advance -- «• 1- 6 -S 

| Duty, (S.12 percent, 12. 

In New Netherland 4 per cent fl. 4 light money, to wit : the rix dollar 02:03 stivers,. 13. 0.8 



t , , nn •■ , T ,, , „„ ( Convoy as above, with advance, fl. 1.17. 

for 100 guilders, Blankets 23, -! J ' 

\ Duty @. 12 per cent, 12. 



13.17. 



N. B. The duffels and blankets aforesaid, pay in addition to the convoy, a duty 
of 12 per cent to the said Company, Chamber at Amsterdam. All the following 
goods 6 per cent, but with a heavier rate of convoy. 

f shirts, stockings, shoes, pedlars'") Convoy 4 stivers per pound flem- 
For 100 I wares, hats, Nurenburg wares and I ish, and J advance, fl. 4. 8.S 



Ul ''111, I ( I l l Willi 11 IIUKILI Idli. 1M «•<,,, 

f shirts, stockings, shoes, pedlars' "| 
J wares, hats, Nurenburg wares and I 
guilders, j goods not included in the convoy < 
[ list. 



Duty there, 4 per cent; here, 6 
percent, G. 



10. S.8 



(woolen cloths, says, serges and \ Convoy with the advance, 1.10. 

... -< other silk, woolen or worsted V Duty there 4 per cent ; here G. 

guilders, j - ,. , . I 

° f stuns, linen cloths. J 



7.10. 



For 100 f ] Convoy about 2.15. 

... < Oil and Spanish wine > n.,.„ a a r c 

guilders, ( v ) Duty 4 and G, 6. 



S.10. 



ri ... ..j i" ..ill f Convoy with the advance,. 

I or 100 guilders, vinegar G hogsheads, \ J 

b a & | Duty 4 and G per cent, 



8. 
6. 



14. 



,, , nn ., , r „ , jiii f Convoy with the advance,. 

I' or 100 guilders, I rench wine 4 nnds., ■{ J 

( Duty 4 and G per cent, 



1.13. 
G. 

7.13. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VIII. 635 



For 100 guilders, Brandy, 1 hogshead J {' *' 

( Duty there 4 per cent ; here 6 . 



7.13. 



i- ,™ -u j- 4 ii j , n i (Convoy as above, 3. 6.8 

For 100 guilders, distilled waters, 12 anchors, 1 _^ J 

I Duty 4 and G per cent, 6 . 



9. 6.8 



For 100 guilders, Nails, 900 lbs., j Convoy, ut supra, 3.12. 

I Duty 4 and 6, 6. 



9.12. 



t- , nn u r>- o • j • f Convoy as above, about 2. S. 

For 100 guilders, Rice, Spices and groceries,. J ' 

( Duty 4 and here 6. 



8. 8. 



„ ,_„ .,, TT „„„ j . ,. ( Convoy with the advance, 7. 4. 

tor 100 guilders, Hops, 300 pounds weight,. 1 J 

b f ' l 6 j Duty there 4, here, 6. 



13. 4. 



All materials and necessaries for farming and the exercise of trade and handicraft are free 
of duty. 

All products of New Netherland imported hither are free of duty. Item. All kinds of salted 
or dried fish, caught there. 

Peltry such as beavers, others, &c, pay eight per cent. 

Amplification of the aforesaid draft of Conditions. 
Any of the Colonists who by himself or his family or any person in his service, shall discover 
any minerals, crystals, precious stones, marbles, etc., of whatever nature they may be, may 
possess and keep them as his own, without paying any impost or duty for them, for the term 
often years; but after the expiration thereof, he shall be held to pay the Company one-tenth 
part of the proceeds. 

The following was exhibited with the 2 drafts of Conditions, and refers to Article 9. 

The City of Amsterdam shall cause a convenient warehouse to be prepared wherein shall 
be deposited all the goods the said City intends to send to its Colonie in New Netherland, 
where they may be inspected, in the presence of a person appointed for that purpose by the 
City of Amsterdam, by any one authorized by the Directors of the West India Company, and 
marked with the marks of the City and Company, the duty thereon being paid to the Company 
according to the list hereof to be made and agreed on. 

Which goods may, then, be laden with the Company's knowledge, in any vessel or vessels 
the said City will be able to obtain. 

If the City of Amsterdam shall ship any goods or freight in any vessel going to New 
Netherland, it shall submit to the same regulations as others. 



(J36 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

But if the City of Amsterdam shall send away its own, or any chartered ship, laden only 
with its own goods, it shall send that ship or ships directly to its own city, town or Colonie, 
provided that all the goods put on board be opened in the City's warehouse there in the 
presence of some person belonging to the Company appointed for that purpose, to whom also 
the letters and commission from the Company shall be delivered. 

In like manner all wares, produce or merchandise imported from the City's Colonie must 
be brought whole into the City here and opened in the City's warehouse in the presence of 
a person appointed for that purpose by the Company, and the duties due to the Country and 
the Company must be paid thereon. 1 



Resolution of the States General on the preceding. 

[From the Register of Wist India Affairs, 1G52 — 1GG3, in the Royal Archives at the Hague.] 

Saturday, the 12 August, 1656. 

Foiiom Received a letter from the Committee of the respective Chambers of the West 

New Neth.riand. India Company representing the Assembly of the Nineeen convened at Amsterdam, 
dated there the 10 th instant, together with some appendices in answer to their High 
Mightinesses' despatch of the 1" of this month, and in conformity thereto, information and 
advice on the Petition and Papers presented by the presiding Chamber of Amsterdam to their 
High Mightinesses in order to obtain their approbation and ratification of the Conditions 
entered into by said Chamber with the Burgomasters of the City of Amsterdam for planting 
Colonies in New Netherland. Which being considered, it is resolved and concluded that the 
aforesaid letter shall be placed in the hands of Mess" van der Capelle to Ryssel and others 
their High Mightinesses' Deputies for the affairs of the West India Company, to investigate, 
examine and report thereon. Then is the foregoing conclusion formed by Mr. van Renswoude. 



-Report of the Committee of the States General on the foregoing Conditions. 

[ From the Oiiginal in the Koj-al Archives at the Hague ; File, West Indie. ] 

Memorandum of the Report. Wednesday -^ August, 1G5G. 

The Committee have read and examined the letter of the Assembly of the Nineteen from 
Amsterdam the 10 August with the Agreement concluded between the West India Company 
Chamber at Amsterdam and the City of Amsterdam for the peopling of New Netherland by 
planting Colonies there on the Conditions therein stipulated. 

Also read the draft of articles to be granted to Colonists by the City of Amsterdam ; 

And find the stipulation of the City of Amsterdam and the draft of the articles contain 
nothing prejudicial to the public interests. 

Compare tb Document* pro, pp. SI 9, 628. — Ed. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS : VIII. . G37 

Therefore, would find it serviceable that this agreement should be ratified on the part of 
their High Mightinesses, saving the right and possession of the Colonies heretofore given out, 
and of the property purchased in their district. 

Their High Mightinesses have thanked the Committee for the trouble they have taken, 
confirmed the report and ratified the agreement entered into respecting the population. But 
when there are 200 families or thereabouts, a preacher and consistory shall be installed without 
any expense to the Company (gencralUcit). 



Ratification by the States General of the Conditions for the Colony on the Delaware 

River. 

[From the Register of West India Affairs, 1C52 — 1GG3, in the Eoyat Archives at the Hague.] 

Wednesday the 16 ,h August, 1656. 
Foiio 221. Heard the report of Mess" Van der Capelle to Ryssel and other their High 

New Netheriand. Mightinesses' Deputies for the affairs of the West India Company, having, pursuant 
to the resolution of the 12 th instant, investigated and examined the letter of the Committee of 
Directors of the respective Chambers of the West India Company representing the Assembly 
of the Nineteen convened at Amsterdam, dated the 10 th instant, together with some appendices 
in answer to their High Mightinesses' despatch of the 1" ditto, and consequently, information 
and advice on the Petition and Papers presented by the presiding Chamber of Amsterdam to 
their High Mightinesses to obtain their approbation and ratification of the Conditions entered 
into by that Chamber with the Burgomasters of said City of Amsterdam for the planting of 
Colonies in New Netheriand. Which being considered, their High Mightinesses have thanked 
the Gentlemen of the Committee for the trouble they have taken, and it is further Resolved 
and concluded, hereby to approve and ratify the aforesaid agreement or conditions entered into 
by the abovementioned Chamber with the Burgomasters of Amsterdam, all nevertheless saving 
and without prejudice to the right, jurisdiction and possession of the Colonies heretofore given out 
in the aforesaid countries and of the property purchased in said district ; with this understanding 
also, that whensoever there shall be in that place two hundred families or thereabouts, a 
preacher and consistory shall be installed there without any expense to the Company. And 
all this saving also the division of the districts which may be made among the respective 
Chambers. It is hereby recommended to the aforesaid Chamber at Amsterdam so to moderate 
the public duties that the population there may be encouraged, and not obstructed. 



«■»■.«. 



Remonstrance of Mr. Ilenrick van der Capelle tlw Ryssel. 

[ From the MS. in the I'.ojal Archive! at the ITague ; Lokftkat of the States General ; F.ubric, West Indteche Compagnie, No. 42. ] 

To their High Mightinesses the Lords States General of the United Netherlands. 

Joncker Henrick van der Capellen tho Ryssel, Lord of Issel and Hasselt, Burgomaster of 
the City of Zutpheu, ordinary Deputy to your High Mightinesses' Assembly, humbly showeth : 



(338 NEW-YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

That in May 1650 he forwarded people to Staten Island in New Netherland, in conformity 
with the Charter thereunto granted hy the West India Company, Chamber of Amsterdam, 
and hath since that time unto February, 1G55, sent thither so many agricultural laborers, 
superintendents and carpenters that in August, 1G55, his Colonie had a population of over ninety 
souls, with eleven bouweries in progress, which he, Van der Capellen, had also stocked with 
the necessary oxen and cows, so that in November, 1655, he was in expectation of a large crop 
of seed and an increase of cattle. 

But in consequence of violence unexpectedly committed by some belonging to the City of 
New Amsterdam, together with beating and shooting some Indians, natives of that country, the 
latter, being unable to revenge themselves on the Burghers of New Amsterdam, set fire to all 
the bouweries first on the Manhattans around New Amsterdam, and afterwards on Staten Island, 
and killed all the people that did not make their escape. 

Wherefore, Van der Capellen hath lost by this burning all his houses and the barns 
appertaining to these bouweries on Staten Island ; and in this resistance fifteen of his people, 
including one superintendent and two carpenters innocently lost their lives, who had never 
given the least offence to the Indians, hy whom over twelve thousand schepels of grain were 
burnt in the straw. The most of this loss falls on your remonstrant, as appears from the 
original letter of Mr. Stuyvesandt, Director-General of New Netherlands dated New Amsterdam, 
30 lb October, 1655, an extract whereof is annexed. 

And as he, Van der Capellen, intends, by the blessing of God the Lord, to prevent such 
murder of his agriculturists, burning of houses, seed crops and plunder of cattle, he has instructed 
Captain Adriaen Post, his agent, to collect together the surviving agriculturists, women and 
children, who are still more than seventy in number, and to erect a fort on said Island pursuant 
to the order sent over; into which he and they can retire, in case of another such hostile 
attack on the part of the Indians. A Bill of exchange has, also, been sent to him to keep those 
people in provisions, until they can have another crop. 

And for the prevention of such hostile attack, the remonstrant is inclined to send out a 
Commander with some soldiers and matrosses to the fort on the island, as well to defend and 
assist his agricultural laborers and freemen as to maintain and carry on the true reformed 
Christian Worship of God, good order, police, justice and contracts. 

He, therefore, with due respect humbly prays your High Mightinesses to be pleased to grant, 
for a capable person of the Christian Reformed Religion, whom he proposes to accept and to 
present in your High Mightinesses' Assembly to be sworn, a Commission similar to that your 
High Mightinesses heretofore, and now lately granted to Mess" Adriaen and Cornelis Lampsins 
for the islands Tobago and St. Martin, on the 2 nd September, 1655, copy whereof is annexed ; 
the said Commander remaining bound to take oath to the West India Company, whenever the 
Assembly of the Nineteen shall think it proper, all in conformity with the Charter granted to 
the West India Company. 

(Signed) Henr: van der Capellen toe Ryssel. 
In the margin was: — 

This Remonstrance is referred to the Directors of the West India Company in 
attendance here, to examine and report. 

Done in their High Mightinesses' Assembly, the 4 ,h October, 1656. 

(Signed) J. Schulenborcii, V. 
By order of the same, 

(Signed) N. Ruiscn. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VIII. 639 

Appendix. 4th October, 1G5G. 

Extract of a letter of Mr. Stuyvesant, Director General in New Netherland, dated 
New Amsterdam, the 30 ,b October, 1655, to the Mr. van der Capellen 
tho Ryssel. 

Which expedition, blessed by God, was brought to a close in 3 @. 4 weeks, when it pleased 
God to temper this our Victory with such an unfortunate and unexpected accident as New 
Netherland never witnessed, inasmuch as in less than 3 days over forty of our nation were 
massacred by the barbarous Natives; about 100 mostly women and children taken prisoners ; 
bouweries and some plantations burnt and laid in ashes, and in and with them over 12,000 
schepels grain yet unthrashed. In this loss you have been the greatest sufferer in the Colonie 
you have begun. 

May the good God please to apply a remedy. Who was the original cause of this great 
misfortune and scandal, I cannot particularly say, as it occurred in my absence. 



Appendix. 4th October, 1656. 

Commission for 

as Commander on the Island of Tobago, situate and included in the 
Caribbean Islands, and consequently within the jurisdiction of the West 
India Company of this country. 

The States General of the United Netherlands. 

Whereas the General Incorporated West India Company of the aforesaid United Netherlands 
hath represented to us, that they have resolved to grant charter and freedom to Adriaen and 
Cornells Lampsins, residing at Flushing in Zealand, and partners, to repair to and reside for a 
certain time at the Island of Tobago, situate and included among the Caribbean Islands, and 
consequently within the jurisdiction of the Company aforesaid, to provide it with a proper 
garrison of sea and land forces, and that they had, for the advancement and direction of their 
affairs there, need to employ a capable and qualified person as Commander, and to this end 
have recommended the person of and accordingly 

requested that we will furnish him with our Commission necessary thereunto. 

Know Ye, that we having the same in consideration as tending to the promotion of the 
general trade and prosperity of this country, and being moreover informed of the fitness, 
fidelity and experience of the aforesaid him have 

appointed and commissioned and do hereby appoint and commission as Commander to make 
arrangements for the security of the lands, fortresses and places in the aforesaid Island, to 
direct the affairs of trade, police, and war, to command the soldiers, sailors and other persons, 
so far as their Charter permits, and to do everything for the service and prosperity of the 
abovementioned Island of Tobago, that a good and faithful Commander is bound and obliged 
to do ; all in conformity with the instruction and commission already given or yet to be given 
by the West India Company aforesaid. 

Ordering and commanding, therefore, all officers, soldiers and seamen of the aforesaid 
places, and whomsoever this in any wise may concern, the abovenamed 



C40 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

to hold, honor and respect as their Commander on the Island of Tobago, and moreover to 
obey whatever he, in the quality aforesaid, shall command them for the service of the State of 
this country in general and of the West India Company in particular. 

Given at the Hague under our counter-seal paraph and the signature of our CrefTier, the 
second of September, 1G55. 



Resolution of the States General on Mr. van der Capellts Petition. 

[ From the Register of West India Affairs, 1052 — 10C3, in the Royal Arc-hires at Hie Hague. ] 

Wednesday, the 4' h October, 165G. 

Foiio 225. Read at the meeting a certain Remonstrance of J r Hendrick van der Capelle 

to Ryssel, Lord of Essel and Hasselt, Burgomaster of the City of Zutphen, Ordinary Deputy 

in their High Mightinesses' Assembly, requesting that a Commission be issued 

Commander at New GO J T o 

Naduriud. f Qr a p ro p er person of the Reformed Religion, which he would send as 

Commander to his people of Staten Island in New Netherland, as was granted last year, 1G55, 
to Mess" Adriaen and Cornells Lampsins for the Island of Tobago and St. Martin. Which 
being considered, it is resolved and concluded to refer the petition aforesaid to the Directors 
of the West India Company here, for advice. 



Resolution of the Assembly of the XIX. on Mr. van der Capellts Petition. 

I From the MS. tu the Royal Archives at the Hague ; Luketkas of the States General ; Rubic, West India Ownpuynie, No. 42. ] 

Extract from the resolutions of the Committee of the respective. Chambers of the 
Incorporated West India Company, representing the Assembly of the XIX., 
holden at the Hague. 

Thursday, the fifth of October, 1656. 

Read at the meeting a certain petition presented by Mr. Hendrick van der Capelle tho Ryssel, 
Lord, etc., to their High Mightinesses, together with their High Mightinesses' postil thereon, 
dated fourth of October, 1056, that the Directors in attendance, from the respective Chambers 
representing the Assembly of the XIX., may furnish their advice on the said opinion presented 
as above. 

It is resolved and concluded, that the petition concerns exclusively the Chamber of 

Amsterdam with which the said gentleman hath specially contracted ; that the Directors of said 

Chamber in attendance are earnestly requested, as well out of respect for the case as for his 

Honor, to bring this petition before the Chamber of Amsterdam, and to second and recommend 

it in the most favorable manner, which, also, they have undertaken to do on the earliest 

opportunity. Agrees with the Register aforesaid. 

(Signed) L. van Seventek, 1656. 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VIII. ( ;41 

Resolution of the States General. 

[ From the Register of West India Affairs, 1652 — 1660, in the Royal Archives at the Hague. ] 

Thursday, 5 lh October, 1656. 
Foiio 225. Read at the Meeting, a certain Resolution of the attending Committee of the 

Directors of the West India Company representing the Assembly of the Nineteen of this day's 
Mr. capeiie. date, in substance that Mr. Van der Capelle to Ryssel's remonstrance presented 

r!,'mminirJrin f New yesterday, to obtain a Commission for a Commander to be sent by him to his 
people of Staten Island in New Netherland concerned exclusively the Chamber 
of Amsterdam, with which that Gentleman had specially contracted, and consequently they 
the Directors in attendance had earnestly requested said Chamber to bring, out of respect for the 
case and his Honor's person, the petition before said Chamber of Amsterdam and to recommend 
it most favorably; which they have undertaken to do at the earliest opportunity. Whereupon 
no resolution is adopted. 



Report on Garrisoning Fort Casimir, on the Delaware River. 

[ From the Bundle endorsed Verschelde Stukk-cti rakende de ColonU van Kieuw Nederlandt, Uo. 6 ; in the Stud Huys > Amsterdam. ] 

Report exhibited and proposed to the Right Worshipful the Burgomasters on 
some points. 1 November, 1656. 

noiiand Documents, Whereas, we had noticed in the Instruction which your Worships were 
x\\ 193. J ' 

pleased to draw up for this Board, that you intended to occupy Fort Casimir, 

we, therefore, for the advancement of matters, have made out an estimate and calculation, and 

considered the number of soldiers necessary in our opinion for the occupation aforesaid, to be 

a Company of 60 strong, under one Captain, Lieutenant and Ensign, &c, in order to impose 

thereby greater respect on the natives and neighbors in those parts. Which Company of 

Soldiers would cost yearly, in wages and rations, economy being studied as much as possible 

herein, as follows: — 

1 Captain, monthly pay, fl. 50.0.0 

1 Lieutenant, " " 30.0.0 

1 Ensign, " " 25.0.0 

2 Sergeants, each 15 guilders, 30.0.0 

1 Captain of arms, 10.0.0 

2 Corporals, each fl.12, 24.0.0 

6 Cadets, each 10, 60.0.0 

2 Drums, each 9 18.0.0 

41 Soldiers, each 8, 352.0.0 

599.0.0 
Multiplied by 12 months 

C^ — -— ■ ■ " = ■ ■S T 

Vol. I. SI 



642 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Yearly wages, fl. 7,158 

T lie yearly allowance for rations amounts 

For 1 Captain, yearly, fl. 150 

For 1 Lieutenant, 120 

For 1 Ensign, 100 

For 2 Sergeants, each fl.SO, 100 

For 55 Rank and file, each fl.GO, 3,300 3.S30 

Total wages and allowance for rations yearly, 11. 1 1,01S. 



To oflicer the aforesaid companies, one Martin Kryger had offered himself as Captain and 
Alexander Hinojossa as Lieutenant; no Ensign satisfactory to us having come forward, we 
recommend both those gentlemen to your Worships agreeably to your Instruction, as persons 
who, we trust on this occasion, are capable of doing good service. The first having resided 
many years in New Netherland and given proof enough of his qualifications, and especially of 
his knowledge of the country and of the South river, and the other on account of his long 
service in Brazil and other capacities, having been employed there as Lieutenant and 
Captain-Lieutenant. 

In case your Worships may conclude on choosing and accepting both these persons, in 
aforesaid quality, 'twill be necessary then to instruct them immediately to look up soldiers 
and, lest the enlistment thereof consume too long a time, as the season is quickly passing and 
therefore cannot permit of it, we are of opinion that the drum ought to be beat for them, in 
order that they may be sent away by the end of this month. 

Also, that we have warned and shall notify all persons who have had themselves registered 
as free Colonists, handicraftsmen, &c, already amounting to a respectable number, that they 
must be prepared and ready, by the aforesaid time ; and finally, 

That for divers reasons we have thought it fit and more profitable to hire or freight a ship 
of 1G0 (a\ 170 lasts burthen here, to convey all the aforesaid people and their requisite 
necessaries, to New Netherland. 



Resolution of the Common Council of Amsterdam on the preceding Report. 

I From the RwolutUn van de Yroedtrhfippen A., p. 151 ; In the Stad Jfitys, Amsterdam. ] 

Extract of the Resolutions of the Common Council of the City of Amsterdam. 

4 November, 1656. 
iMiaMi Documents, The Burgomasters have further informed the Council that their Worships had, 
GnioDiea in New m tne promotion of the New Netherland business, considered among other 
things: In what manner Fort Casimir, which is situate on the South river and is 
conveyed to this City by the West India Company and destined to be the first abiding place of 
the new Colonists, should in future be guarded and defended against foreign attack, as the 
present Garrison is to be removed thence by said Company, and quartered in other of their 
forts lying higher up on said river, and that their Worships had principally taken into 
consideration these means, to wit: To send over 60 to 70 Boors from the Gulick country and 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS : VIII. 643 

surrounding neighborhood, who, by the daily quartering of soldiers are not much less qualified 
for war than they, in order to mount guard on certain conditions and penalties, and to attend 
to agriculture the remainder of the time ; or, else, a certain number of soldiers to garrison 
specially said Fort. 

Then, their Worships considering that these means would be a source of more or less 
expense to the City, had resolved before proceeding therein, to request the advice and orders 
of this Council. 

Which being considered, and the maintaining of soldiers or of those who perform such duty, 
being adjudged one of the most fundamental requisites for the security of many embryo cities 
and towns, 

It is unanimously resolved and concluded hereby to request and authorize the Burgomasters 
to act in the premises, as they may consider most advantageous to the projected Colonies. 



Estimated Expense of sending a Colony of 150 persons to the Delaware River. 

I From the Bundle endorsed Yersclteidc StuJcken rakend* de Colonie can Nieuw Xederlandt, Nos. 7, 8, 9, 10 ; in the Stad H'lys, Amsterdam. ] 

Amsterdam, 20 October, A 1656. 

Holland Documents kist °f Clothing and whatever appertains thereto, required for those who will 

xv ' 201- go to New Netherland as Colonists, estimated at 100 persons for 1 year. 

400 pairs of shoes for men, women and children, average (Si 25 stiv. per pair, fl. 500. 

200 pairs of Iceland stockings, @. 5 stivers the pair, 50. 

50 pairs Prussian blue stockings, (Si 15 stivers the pair, 37.10 

50 pairs cloth hose for women and children, average (a). 15 stivers, 37.10 

50 pairs wool dyed hose for women and children, average (Si 20 stivers, 50. 

200 shirts for men and women, (al 36 stivers, 360. 

600 ells coarse flemish linen, &c, for making children's shirts, 10 stivers,. . .. 300. 

50 men's hats, fl. 2, 100 . 

50 boys' hats, fl. li, 75. 

100 red Rouen caps, 4 slivers, 20 

150 ells coarse colored cloth, for making 50 suits of men's clothes, (3l 45 stivers, 337 . 1 

500 ells Russia cloth for overcoats and children's clothing, (al 6 stivers, 120. 

200 ells duffels and some woolen strings for women and children's petticoats, 

(a), 30 stivers 300 . 

100 neckcloths (dossiers), (SI 5 stivers, 25. 

20 pairs of thick leather boots, fl. 6, 120. 

Hooks and eyes, buttons, white, gray and colored yarn, together with 

pay for making men's clothing ; total estimated, 300 . 

50 blankets for covering, (Si fl. 4, fl. 200 

100 double carpets (carpctten 1 ), (tk 24 stivers, 120 

320. 

Add hereunto clothing for 50 persons, which would amount to 1,526. 5 

Total for clothing for 150 persons yearly, , - — 4.57S . 15 

1 Quere ? Carpoetten, caps. — Ed. 



644 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

And for the purchase of cattle which are necessary for agriculture, at first 
cargoes must be sent out, which are taken by the neighboring 
English, viz'. 

Duffels, shirts, stockings, shoes and distilled waters, for the sum of fl. 3,000. 

Amsterdam, S ,h November, Anno. 1656. 
H..iund oocumcnis, List of Liquors and provisions required for 100 people for one year: 

16 barrels of Beef, each weighing 500 lb. @ 70 fl., fl. 1120. 

9 do. pork, " " 300 42 fl 378. 

4 tierces Spanish wine, per awm.. 80 fl., 320 . 

4 " Brandy, " SO fl., 320. 

6 " French wine, " 28 fl., 168. 

5 firkins Vinegar, per firk., 34 fl., 272. 

4 tierces oil, per awm., 85 fl., 340. 

4 " train oil, " 30 fl., 120. 

20500 lbs. meal, including the toll, &c, 560. 

8 tons salt, per ton, 3 fl 24. 

10 bags groats, per sack, 4 3 fl., 475. 

72 "peas, " 4 fl., 288. 

25 "beans, " 3 fl., 75. 

4 firkins butter, per firkin, 65 fl., 260. 

250 lbs. cheese, per lb. 25 st., 437.10 

6200 lbs. dried codfish, per ct. 6 fl., 312. 

2 schepels mustard seed, per sch., 3i fl., 7. 

150 lbs. candles, per lb. 6 St., 45 . 

15 hams,@fl. 2, 30. 

12 ps. smoked beef, 2 fl., 24. 

30 smoked tongues, 12 St., 18 . 

fl. 5593.10 
Casks required for the above : 

76 meat barrels, fl. 7i, ^ 120. 

36 pork do. and tierces, 6 fl., 216. 

8 firkins, 10 fl., 80. 

140 dry casks, 2 fl., 280. 

8 kegs, 16 st 6. 8 

24 cases, 30 st., 36. 

fl. 6331.18 

Add hereunto provisions for 50 persons amounting to, 3J66.00 

Total for 150 persons for 1 year, fl. 9497.18 



HOLLAND DOCUMENTS: VIII. 645 

Amsterdam, S lb November, A 1656. 

xv'. a, i98 Docainenl8 ' List of the munitions of war required for 150 men, to be sent to the South river 

of New Netherland. 

75 muskets, @, fl. 4£ each, fl. 337.10 

75 firelocks or snaphance, (al 8, 600.00 

75 bandoleers, (& 22 stiv., 82.10 

75 cartridge boxes, @. 28 stiv., 105.00 

75 swords, fl. 2i 187 . 10 

75 hangers, fl. 2i, 1S7.10 

75 sword belts, 25 stiv., 100.00 

75 sabre belts, fl. 1, 75 . 00 

70 chests, @. 28 stivers, 9S.0O 

70 straw beds, fl. 1, 70.00 

1,843.00 

2000- lbs. powder, (at fl. 45 per cwt., 900.00 

600 lbs. lead, 10 " 60.00 

400 lbs. musket balls, 11 " 44.00 

2.S43.00 



inland Documents Calculation or estimate of the first cost of the following necessaries which are 
xv,m - required for New Netherland. 

For 2 months' wages for the crew, fl. 600.00 

For 5 months' supplies for the ship, 750.00 

For 2 months' in hand for 40 soldiers, 800.00 

For 150 persons rations, 9,500.00 

For cloathing and other necessaries, 4,500.00 

For cargoes in duffels, &c, 3,000.00 

For materials and agricultural implements, 3,000.00 

For powder, lead, guns and other munitions of war, 2,800.00 

fl. 24,950.00 



Resolution authorizing a Loan for the Colony on the Delaware River. 

[ From the Rwolulim van de Yroedschappen, A., p. 152 ; in the Stad Huye, Amsterdam. ] 

Extract from the Resolutions of the Common Council of the City of Amsterdam. 

11 November, 1656. 
nrniand Documents Tne Commissioners appointed for the affairs of New Netherland are authorized 
xv., 10. . the Council to borrow the sum of Twenty-five thousand Guilders, for setting 

Coniniifsioners of ^ ■* 

Sorked e w a wow U P the Colonie and the purchase of divers goods required by it, and to pledge for 
20,000 gi. such | Qan t | ie revenueS) mea ns and effects of the City. 



(540 NEW- YORK COLONIAL MANUSCRIPTS. 

Commission of Captain Martin Kryger. 

[ From the Oroot Memoriatl, IV., 119, In the Stad Ifuys, Amsterdam.] 

iioiinnd Documents, The Burgomasters and Regents of the City of Amstelredamme being resolved 

XV. 119. 

to send a Company of Soldiers to their Colonie in New Netherland, and therefore 
requiring to appoint an experienced and proper person to command those Soldiers as Captain, 
the person of Martin Kryger was proposed as such to them, Make known: That they, on the 
good report rendered them of the fitness, fidelity and experience of the abovenamed Martin 
Martin Kryc-ra Kryger, have accepted, appointed and commissioned him, do hereby accept, 

i ommlwlon isOap- ; ..,. -, . ., - . , _ 

uin of a Oompsnj appoint and commission him, as Captain, to command the aforesaid Company 

,.f Soldiers In flew rl r r J 

NethertatM. f Soldiers, and to employ them in New Netherland aforesaid, and wherever it 

shall be necessary as he shall deem most serviceable, according to the letter of instructions 
and further orders which their Worships shall consider good and proper; wherefore, we 
order and command all officers and soldiers belonging to the aforesaid Company to hold, 
acknowledge and respect the aforesaid Martin Kryger as their Captain, and, moreover, to 
obey all whatsoever he shall command them on the part of the aforesaid City for its service, 
for such is their Worships' pleasure. In witness whereof, the Seal of the said City is affixed 
hereunto, the 5 ,h December, 165G. (Was signed) J. Corver. Having impressed the seal in 
green wax. 



Commission of Lieutenant Alexander d'Hinojosa. 

[From the Groot Mtmoriael, IV., 119, in the Stad Iluys, Amsterdam.] 

Holland Documents, The Burgomasters and Regents of the City of Amstelredamme having resolved 

XV. 121. . . 

to send a Company of Soldiers to their Colonie in New Netherland, and therefore 

requiring to appoint a suitable person, who as Lieutenant, may command under the Valiant 

Martin Kryger, Captain of said Company, the person of Alexander d'Hinojosa was proposed 

as such to them, Make known : That they, on the good report rendered them of the fitness, 

Alexander dMiino. fidelity and experience of the aforesaid Alexander d'Hinojosa, have accepted, 

j<>sa as Lieutenant ■ , i ••,,,, 

in New Neiherund. appointed and commissioned, do hereby accept, appoint and commission him, 

as Lieutenant, to command in good correspondence and unity the said Company, under the 

Captain aforesaid, and according to his instruction and orders, given and to be given by their 

Worships, to promote our service ; wherefore, we order and command all officers and soldiers 

of said Company, the aforesaid Alexander d'Hinojosa to acknowledge, respect and obey as 

their Lieutenant, for such is their Worships' pleasure. In witness whereof, the Seal of the 

said City is affixed hereunto, the 5 (h December, 1656. (Was signed) J. Corver. Having 

besides a seal impressed on green wax. 



FOR GENERAL INDEX TO THIS WORK, SEE THE LAST VOLUME. 



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